Unlocking Access to Food Markets in Qatar

PCA Newsletters12. Dec 2024.

Food and beverage imports to Qatar have risen by nearly 15.8% in comparison with 2023 figures. To ensure food products imported into Qatar are safe and conform to relevant standards, the Ministry of Public Health – Food Safety Department (MoPH-FSD) has implemented the Conformity Assessment of Food Scheme. What is the best way to seamlessly enter this competitive and prosperous market?

The Conformity Assessment of Food Scheme applies to a wide variety of food products, including:

Meat and meat products
Genetically modified ingredients and products (GMOs)
Organic foods
Enoki mushrooms
Prepackaged food
Spices
Fresh fruit and vegetables
Seafood
Processed food
Dairy products
Vegetable oil
Honey

Before importing into Qatar, businesses must obtain certification for these products from an MoPH-FSD-approved certification body. Exporters need to apply for a certificate of conformity (CoC) with the certification body and provide the required documents for the corresponding shipments.

Required documents include:

WATEQ registration
Invoice/pro-forma invoice
Packing list
Quality management system (QMS)
Internal CoA (certificate of analysis/test reports)
Product label (artwork)
Label inspection report
Evidence that product samples are analyzed in an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory and show compliance with Qatari technical standards/Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) General Standard Organization requirements

Exporters should note that any meat, meat product or product containing ingredients of animal origin must also supply a Halal certificate alongside the mandatory CoC. In addition, while products manufactured in countries of the GCC do not require mandatory CoC, food products re-exported will require a CoC.

SGS helps you access Qatar food markets

As an MoPH-FSD-approved certification body, our one-stop-shop service provides customer-focused conformity assessment for the complete range of regulated food products. Through a global network of 2,700 offices and laboratories, we support businesses from all over the world, assessing conformity against applicable Qatari technical standards and offering comprehensive solutions to enable efficient market access. Our services accelerate time-to-market while ensuring quality and safety and reducing potential losses.

With over 100 years of proven objectivity, reliability and integrity, we are the trusted partner of government and trade communities all over the world. Current conformity assessment programs that we provide include those for Saudi Arabia (SASO), Kuwait (PAIKUCAS), Kenya (KEBS), Egypt (GEOIC), Algeria (IANOR), Nigeria (SON), Tanzania (TBS) and Uganda (UNBS).

When food exporters need an efficient and effective route to product conformity for Qatar, we have the global solution.

For more details about product conformity services and SGS services, contact your local SGS office.

Learn more about Qatar – PVoC Program for Food.

This article can also be found in our PCA Newsletter (Q4/2024) – which keeps you up to date with developments in technical barriers to trade and product conformity assessment.