Moph Reports Significant Food Safety Measures For 2024 First Half

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Fazeena Saleem | The Peninsula

DOHA: The Food Safety Department of the Ministry of Public health (MoPH) has taken a number of measures during first six months of 2024 to ensure the safety and quality of consumables available to the public.

Statistics released by MoPH yesterday shed light on various activities related to food safety in the country, including data on imported food, number of inspections conducted, consumer complaints received through the hotline and the registration activities pertaining to food items and establishments.

Food Safety Department effectively implements health policies related to food safety and carries out the Ministry of Public Health's responsibilities in regulating human food control.

Port Health and Food Control Section at the Food Safety Department at Hamad International Airport, Hamad Port, Al Ruwais Port and at the Abu Samra land border has inspected 60,520 imported food shipments to ensure they meet safety standards and comply with relevant regulations and technical requirements; and 1,168,695,057 kg of imported food items has met the requirements. A total of 985,676kg of non-compliant food items were destroyed.

Port Health and Food Control Section has also inspected 211 re-exported food shipments; issued 155 exports and or re-export certificates, and issued 104 food destruction certificates in the first half of 2024.

Food Safety Department conducts inspections of food handling premises and food traders to ensure the safety and validity of food products. It enforces regulations that prohibit the handling of food items that do not meet specified requirements, in collaboration with relevant authorities. Additionally, the department responds to food safety emergencies in partnership with multiple entities, and oversees the operation of laboratories responsible for examining and analysing food samples.

The Food Safety Department has conducted 3,221 inspections in restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, food factories and others to check about compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and technical requirements. A total of 2,779 follow-ups were done to ensure compliance of food establishments.

The Department has reviewed and followed up on 147 registration and operational information for local food establishments; registered 1,279 food handlers; issued 1,734 permits for food handlers; and printed 766 food handler permits.

Food Safety Department's Laboratories Section analysed more than 17,000 samples in the first half of 2024, including both imported food items and samples from local establishments.

It includes 7,022 samples from imported food stuffs at the country's ports; and a total of 10,064 samples from local food establishments.

Food Safety Laboratories Section of the Food Safety Department has enhanced capabilities of a food safety management system together with the best international standards that require development of lab services.

The Food Safety Department has responded to 181 public complaints received through the unified call centre number (16000) for the public health sector. A total of 21,457 food items were approved and 883 food establishments were registered through Watheq, the electronic food safety system, in the first half of 2024.

Through Watheq, 48 re inspections of food items, 625 destruction request; 102 request for re-analysis and 3,119 requests for final release of food items were registered.

Watheq is run by the Food Safety Department of the ministry to ensure am effective food safety system in the country.

It electronically links the system of imported and exported food, the system related to food in the local market, and the electronic management of food analysis laboratories.

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