G/SPS/N/MUS/19  
12 September 2023  
(23-6050) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  MAURITIUS  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Health and Wellness  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Meat and edible meat offal (HS code(s): 02); Fish and crustaceans, 
molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates (HS code(s): 03); Dairy produce; Birds' eggs; 
Natur al honey; Edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included 
(HS code(s): 04); Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included 
(HS code(s): 05); Live trees and other plants; Bulbs, roots and the like; Cut flowers and 
ornam ental foliage (HS code(s): 06); Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers 
(HS code(s): 07); Edible fruit and nuts; Peel of citrus fruit or melons (HS code(s): 08); 
Coffee, tea, maté and spices (HS code(s): 09); Cereals (HS code(s): 10); Products of th e 
milling industry; Malt; Starches; Inulin; Wheat gluten (HS code(s): 11); Oil seeds and 
oleaginous fruits; Miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; Industrial or medicinal plants; 
Straw and fodder (HS code(s): 12); Lac; Gums, resins and other vegetable saps  and 
extracts (HS code(s): 13); Vegetable plaiting materials; vegetable products not elsewhere 
specified or included (HS code(s): 14); Animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils and 
their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes  
(HS code(s):  15); Preparations of meat, of fish, of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic 
invertebrates, or of insects (HS code(s): 16); Sugars and sugar confectionery 
(HS code(s):  17); Cocoa and cocoa preparations (HS code(s): 18); Preparations of cereals, 
flour, starch or milk; Pastrycooks' products (HS code(s): 19); Preparations of vegetables, 
fruit, nuts or other parts of plants (HS code(s): 20); Miscellaneous edible preparations 
(HS code(s): 21); Beverages, spirits and vinegar (HS code(s): 22); Residues and waste 
from the food industries; Prepared animal fodder  (HS code(s): 23); Tobacco and 
manufactured tobacco substitutes; Products, whether or not containing nicotine, intended 
for inhalation without combustion; other nicotine con taining products intended for the 
intake of nicotine into the human body  (HS code(s): 24); Salt; Sulphur; Earths and stone; 
Plastering materials, lime and cement (HS code(s): 25)  
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:  Food Act 2022 , Draft Food Regulations 2023  
Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  42 and 93 respectively  
Food Act 2022:  https://mauritiusassembly.govmu.org/mauritiusassembly/wp -
content/uploads/2023/03/act1222.pdf  
Draft Food Regulation s 2023:  https://health.govmu.org/health/wp -
content/uploads/2023/09/DRAFT -FOOD -REGULATIONS -2023-.pdf G/SPS/N/MUS/19  
 
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  6. Description of content:  The Draft Food Regulations 2023 will replace the current Food 
Regulations 1999, wi th the objective to further strengthen the food control framework in 
Mauritius by setting standards for the following:  
− Food composition and labelling, including labelling requirements for pre -packed food;  
− Packages for food, including standards for food gra de material, which can be used for 
packaging;  
− Pre-approval permit for any novel food, food produced using gene technology and 
irradiated food;  
− Examination and sampling of food for clearance at border level as well as surveillance 
at domestic level;  
− Food hygiene pertaining to building and facilities, food handling practices and personal 
hygiene of food handlers;  
− Contaminants levels to protect the market from the sale of unsafe food;  
− Chilled and frozen food to enable the transport, storage, display and  sale of perishable 
food safely;  
− Food additives, which can be used in specific food and at which level;  
− Salt, which is allowed for sale;  
− Cereal and cereal product for the sale of fortified flour;  
− Egg and egg product to ensure their safe consumption;  
− Specia l purpose food for the health protection of infants and children;  
− Edible oil or fat concerning saturated fat and trans -fat; 
− Mayonnaise and sauce for their production;  
− Milk and milk product to ensure their safety and nutritional quality;  
− Meat and meat produ ct processing and sale;  
− Fish and fish product, which are safe for human consumption;  
− Packaged water and natural mineral water for their production and sale;  
− Food safety management system requirement for food establishments involved in 
specific types of foo d, mayonnaise, fish and fish product, meat and meat product, and 
packaged water and natural mineral water; and  
− Food prohibited for sale in educational institutions, such pre -primary, primary and 
secondary schools.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  The objective of the draft food regulations 2023 is to 
strengthen the existing food regulations to pr otect the population from unsafe and 
unhealthy food. The high morbidity and mortality related to the consumption of unsafe and 
unhealthy food are the main reasons urging the coming up with a new food regulations.  
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : The draft Food Regulations is mostly based on the 
CODEX texts, as follows:  
− General standard for the lab elling of pre -packaged foods CXS 1 -1985 
− Codex General Standard for Food Additives (Codex Stan 192 -1995, Rev.)  
− Codex General Standards for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed 
(Codex Stan 193-1995) 
− Codex pesticide residues in food online database  
− Codex Alimentarius – MAXIMUM RESIDUE LIMITS (MRLs) AND RISK 
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS (RMRs) FOR RESIDUES OF VETERINARY 
DRUGS IN FOODS (CX/MRL 2 -2018)  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code,  chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No G/SPS/N/MUS/19  
 
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  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:    
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 1 December 2023  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 1 January 2024  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [X]  Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) :  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 11 November 2023  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
Mr Danandjay Luximon  
Deputy Director  
4th Floor, Medine Mews  
La Chaussee Street,  
Tel: +(230) 260 2914  
E-mail: vidan_2@yahoo.com  
 dvluximon@gmail.com  
Alternate email: motas@intnet.mu  
Mrs S.  Jawaheer Unathras  
Ag. Senior Scientific Officer  
Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security (National Plant Protection Office)  
Tel: +(230) 465 4902  
Fax: +(230) 465 9591  
E-mail: moa-pathology@govmu.org  
Ministry of Health and Wellness  
Mr Yousouf Gaungoo  
Officer -In-Charge  
Mauritius Food Standards Agency  
3rd Floor, Room 3A, Emmanuel Anquetil Building, Port Louis  
Mob: +(230)  5252 8567|WhatsA pp: +(230)  5754 7834 
E-mail: yougaungoo@govmu.org  G/SPS/N/MUS/19  
 
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  13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Mr Danandjay Luximon  
Deputy Director  
4th Floor, Medine Mews  
La Chaussee Street,  
Tel: +(230) 260 2914  
E-mail: vidan_2@yahoo.com  
 dvluximon@gmail.com  
Alternate email: motas@intnet.mu  
Mrs S.  Jawaheer Unathras  
Ag. Senior Scientific Officer  
Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security (National Plant Protection Office)  
Tel: +(230) 465 4902  
Fax: +(230) 465 9591  
E-mail: moa-pathology@govmu.org  
Ministry of Health and Wellness  
Mr Yousouf Gaungoo  
Officer -In-Charge  
Mauritius Food Standards Agency  
3rd Floor, Room 3A, Emmanuel Anquetil Building, Port Louis 
Mob: +(230)  5252 8567|WhatsApp: +(230)  5754 7834 
E-mail: yougaungoo@govmu.org