G/TBT/N/BHR/376
10 November 2014 
(14-6578)  Page: 1/2
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English
 
  NOTIFICATION 
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member: KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):    
2. Agency responsible: Standards & Metrology Directorate (BSMD) 
Name and address (including telephon e and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above : 
Ministry of Industry and Commerce 
P.O. Box 5479 
Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: +973 17574880  Fax: +973 17530730 
E-mail: bsmd@moic.gov.bh   
Website: http://www.moic.gov.bh   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applic able, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Fresh fruits and 
vegetables - Avocado (ICS: 67.080) 
5. Title, number of pages and langua ge(s) of the notified document: Fresh fruits and 
vegetables - Avocado (10 pages, in English; 11 pages, in Arabic) 
6. Description of content:  
The notified draft technical regulation specifies the mandatory requirements of packaging 
and labelling which are stated in the Gulf Standard GSO 2131 for "Fresh Fruits and Vegetables - Avocado" under Clauses 6.2 and 7 respectively. They are illustrated and shall 
be declared on the label of the product as follows: 
• Avocados must be packed in such a way as to protect it properly. The materials 
used inside the package must be new, cl ean, and of a quality such as to avoid 
causing any external or internal damage to the product. The use of materials, 
particularly of paper or stamps bearing trade specifications is allowed, provided the printing or labelling has been done with non-toxic ink or glue. 
It also describes following label requirements such as: 
1. The labeling should be without prejudice to the provisions of Gulf Standard 
GSO 9 "Labeling of prepackaged foods". 
2. Labelling and adjoining explanatory statements shall be in written in Arabic and 
any other language. All the information provided in another language shall be 
identical with those written in Arabic. 
3. The following shall be declared on the label of the product: 
• Nature of product: If the product is not visible from the outside, each 
package shall be labelled as to the name of the product and may be labelled as to name of the variety. G/TBT/N/BHR/376 
 
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  • Non-retail containers: Each package must bear the following particulars, in 
letters grouped on the same side, legibly and indelibly marked, and visible from the outside, or in the documents accompanying the shipment. For 
product transported in bulk, these particulars must appear on a document 
accompanying the goods. 
• Origin of product: Country of origin and, optionally, district where grown or 
national, regional or local place name. 
• Commercial identification: Class, size  expressed in minimum and maximum 
weight in grams. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: 
To maintain consumer protection and food safety 
8. Relevant documents:   
• GSO 1406 "Fresh Fruits and Vegetables - Avocado" 
• Codex Stan CAC 197/2013, "Fresh Fruits and Vegetables - Avocado" 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   To be determined 
Proposed date of entry into force:   To be determined   
10. Final date for comments: 60 days from the notification date 
11. Texts available from: Nati onal enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:  
Ministry of Industry and Commerce 
P.O. Box 5479 
Kingdom of Bahrain 
Tel: +973 17574880 Fax: +973 17530730 
E-mail: bsmd@moic.gov.bh   
Website: http://www.moic.gov.bh