G/SPS/N/BHR/155
18 February 2015 
(15-0974)  Page: 1/2
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English
 
  NOTIFICATION 
1. Notifying Member: KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible: Commission Gulf Food Safety - General Secretariat of the Gulf 
Cooperation Council 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable):  
- All imported food 
- Specific certificates for animals: animal products (meat and its derivatives) 
- Birds products and derivatives products - Fish and fish products and their derivatives 
- Phytosanitary: plant products and their derivatives and products 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document: GCC Guide for Control on Imported Foods 
Language(s): English  Number of pages: 36  
6. Description of content: This Guide describes principles and regulatory requirements to 
be applied by the exporting country and th e importing GCC countries in assuring the 
safety and suitability of shipments of imported food. Specific attestations for animal and plant health certification are also provided in the Guide. 
The Guide incorporates Codex, OIE, IPPC standards as international benchmarks where 
appropriate. 
There is ongoing work in the GCC countries to harmonize all regulatory requirements for 
imported foods and provide a coordinated and efficient border inspection and clearance system. While regulatory requirements and pr ocedures for imported foods are not as yet 
fully harmonized between the countries of the GCC, this Guide will contribute to the 
harmonization process. In particular, the countries of the GCC will continue to work towards a fully risk-based approach to assure the safety of imported foods. 
7. Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [X] animal health, [X] plant 
protection, [X] protect humans from animal /plant pest or disease, [X] protect 
territory from other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international stan dard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text)  
 - Codex Alimentarius 1995. Codex Standard 198-1995. Volume 7 (53-60) 
 - CALCLGL 38-2001 
 - CAC STAN 206-1999 G/SPS/N/BHR/155 
 
- 2 - 
 
  [X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)   
 - Terrestrial Animal Health code. 2012. Sections 2, 5 and 6  
 - Terrestrial Aquatic Animal Health code. 2012. Section 5 
[X] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)   
 - IPPC ISPM 12:2011  
[ ] None Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
[X] Yes   [ ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available: None   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : Not stated. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : Not stated. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [X] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : 1 June 2015 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable. Due to the notification of this Guide 
by some of the GCC countries in 2011, the attached version has been reviewed, modified, and adopted by all GCC countr ies including the Kingdom of Bahrain. 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
13. Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notifi cation Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Nujood Khalifa Almuqahwi  
Head, Safety of Im ported Food Group 
Public Health Directorate 
Ministry of Health 
Kingdom of Bahrain P.O. Box: 42 Tel: +(973) 1727 3683 
Fax: +(973) 1727 9253 
E-mail: nmuqahwi@health.gov.bh Website: http://www.moh.gov.bh