هيئة التقييس لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية  
GCC STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION (GSO)  
  
   
 
 
 
مشروع نهائي  
 
 
 
GSO 05/SC3 FDS/ 654:20 12(E)  
 
 
 
 الإشتراطات العامة للأغذية المعبأة ذات الإستعمالات التغذوية الخاصة  
General requirements for prepackaged  foods  
for special dietary use  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
إعداد 
اللجنة الفنية الفرعية الخليجية للأغذية العضوية والوظيفية والمحورة وراثيا   
 
هذه الوثيقة مشروع لمواصفة قياسية خليجية تم توزيعها لإبداء الرأي والملحوظات بشأنها، لذلك 
فإنها عرضة للتغيير والتبديل، ولا يجوز الرجوع إليها كمواصفة قياسية خليجية إلا بعد اعتمادها  
من مجلس إدارة الهيئة.   
 
تقديم 
 
هيئة التقييس لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخل يج العربية هيئة إقليمية تضم في عضويتها الأجهزة 
الوطنية للمواصفات والمقاييس في دول الخليج العربية ، ومن مهام الهيئة إعداد المواصفات القياسية 
الخليجية بواسطة لجان فنية متخصصة .  
 
وقد قامت هيئة التقييس لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية ضمن برنامج عمل اللجنة الفنية  
رقم TC5/SC3 " اللجنة الفنية الفرعية الخليجية للأغذية العضوية والوظيفية والمحورة وراثياً    
بتحديث المواصفة القياسية الخليجية رقم 654  "الإشتراطات العامة للأغذية المعبأة ذات 
الإستعمالات التغذوية الخاصة". وقامت ( الامارات العربية المتحدة) بإعداد مش روع هذه المواصفة.  
  
وقد اعتمدت هذه المواصفة كـ(لائحة فنية) خليجية في اجتماع مجلس إدارة الهيئة رقم (          ) ، 
الذي عقد بتاريخ      /      /      هـ ، الموافق    /    /     م.  
 
 
 
 
 
Foreword 
 
GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) is a regional Organiza tion which 
consists of the National Standards Bodies of GCC member States. One of 
GSO main fun ctions is to issue Gulf Standards /Te chnical regulations 
through spe cialized te chnical commi ttees (TCs).  
 
GSO through the te chnical pro gram of committee TC No .5 /SC3   "GCC 
sub-committee for Organic, Functional and Genetically Modified Food " has 
update d the GSO Standard No. : 654 " General requirements for 
prepackaged foods for special dietary use " . The Draft Standard has been 
prepared by (United Arab Emirates).  
 
This standard has been approved as a Gulf (Technical Regulation) by GSO 
Board o f Directors in its meeting No.(       ),held on      /    /            
H ,     /     /              G.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GSO St andard                                 GSO 05/SC3 FDS/ 654:2012  
 
General requirements for prepackaged  foods  
for special dietary use  
 
1. SCOPE  
This standard is concerned with the General requirements for prepackaged  foods for 
special dietary use .It includes foods for infants and children. It does not apply to foods 
packaged in pharmaceutical shape.  
 
2. COMPLEMENTARY REFERENCES  
2.1 GSO 9 :  “Labeling  of Prepackaged Foods”.  
2.2 GSO / CAC/GL 1 : “General Guidelines on Claims ”. 
2.3 GSO 1366 :“ General requirements for handling of Foods for Special Medical 
Purposes” .  
 
3. DESCRIPTION  
3.1 Foods for Special Dietary Uses  
Foods which are specially processed or formulated to satisfy  particular dietary 
requirements which exist because of a particular physical or physiological condition 
and/or  specific diseases and disorders and which are presented as such(1.The composition 
of these foodstuffs must differ significantly from the composition of ordinary foods of 
comparable nature, if such ordinary foods exist.  
 
3.2 The definitions (2 laid down in the Gulf Standard for the Labeling  of Prepackaged 
Foods apply  ( item 2.1) . 
 
4. GENERAL PRINCIPLES  
4.1 Prepackaged Foods for Special Dietary Uses shall not be described or presented in a 
manner that is false,  misleading or deceptive or is likely to create an erroneous 
impression regarding their character in any respect  (2 . 
4.2 Nothing in the labeling  and advertising of foods to which this standard applies shall 
imply that advice from a  qualified person is not needed.  
4.3 The product shall be completely free from pork products or their derivatives.  
4.4 It shall be register ed by the health authorities.  
4.5 It shall not be pharmaceutically packaged in a way suggesting that it is a drug.  
4.6 It shall be offered for sale in places separated from the ordinary foods in 
supermarkets. and shall be dispensed only by pharmacies, hosp itals and children care 
centers.  
4.7 Artificial sweeteners are not permitted to be used in all baby and infant foods .  
 
ــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ  
1( This includes foods for infants and young children.  
2( Examples of descriptions or presentations to which these General Principles refer, are given in the Gulf 
standard item 2.2 .   
1 GSO Standard                                 GSO 05/SC3 FDS/ 654:2012  
 
5. labeling    
Without prejudice to what is stated in GSO standards mentioned in 2.1 and 2.2 ,the 
following shall be declared on the label :  
5.1 The name of the food  
In addition to the declaration of the name of the food in accordance with Section 5.1 of 
the Gulf Standar d ( item 2.1) , the following provisions apply:  
5.1.1 The designation “special dietary”, “special dietetic” or an appropriate equivalent 
term, may be used in  conjunction with the name only where the product corresponds to 
the definition in Section 3.1. 
5.1.2 The characterizing essential feature, but not the condition for which the food is 
intended, shall be stated in  appropriate descriptive terms in close proximity to the name 
of the food.  
5.2 List of ingredients  
The declaration of the list of ingredients  shall be in accordance with Section 5.2 of the 
Gulf Standard ( item 2.1) . 
5.3    Nutrition labeling  
5.3.1  Nutrition labeling  shall include the following:  
5.3.1.1  The amount of energy per 100 grammes or 100 ml of the food as sold and where 
appropriate per  specified quantity of the food as suggested for consumption, expressed in 
kilocalories (kcal) and kilojoules (kJ).  
5.3.1.2 The number of grammes of protein, available carbohydrate and fat per 100 
grammes or 100 ml of the  food as sold and where appropriate per specified quantity of 
the food as suggested for consumption.  
5.3.1.3  The total quantity of those specific nutrients or other components which provide 
the characterizing essential feature for the special dietary use f or which the food is 
intended per 100 grammes or 100 ml of the food as sold and, where appropriate, per 
specified quantity of the food as suggested for consumption.  
5.4 Net contents and drained weight  
The declaration of net contents and drained weight shal l be in accordance with Section 
5.3 of the Gulf Standard ( item 2.1).  
5.5 Name and address  
The name and address shall be declared in accordance with Section 5.4 of the Gulf 
Standard ( item 2.1).  
5.6 Country of origin  
The country of origin shall be declared  in accordance with Section 5.5 of the Gulf 
Standard ( item 2.1).  
5.7 Lot identification  
The lot identification shall be declared in accordance with Section 5.6 of the Gulf 
Standard ( item 2.1).  
 
 
 
2 GSO Standard                                 GSO 05/SC3 FDS/ 654:2012  
 
5.8 Date marking and storage instructions  
In addition to the declaration of date marking and storage instructions in accordance with 
Section 5.7 of the  Gulf Standard ( item 2.1) , the storage instructions of opened packages 
of a food for special dietary uses shall be included on the label if  necessary to ensure that 
the opened product maintains its wholesomeness and nutritive value. A warning should 
be included on the label if the food i s not capable of being stored after opening or is not 
capable of being stored in the container after opening.  
5.9 The special cases in which the food is used and the suitable amount permissible for 
daily consumption.  
10.5 The procedures of preparation and use ,and in the case of baby and infant foods the 
procedures shall be indicated according to the age of child.  
 
6. ADDITIONAL MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC FOODS  
6.1 Quantitative labeling  of ingredients  
The quantitative labeling  of ingredients shall be in accordance with Section 7.1 of the 
Gulf Standard ( item 2.1).  
 
6.2 The following cautionary statement shall be declared: "To Be Used Under  
Medical Supervision", wherever applicable to certain foods.  
 
6.3 The amount of added sweeteners accompanied  by the following cautionary  
statements:  
6.3.1  In the case of aspartame:  
6.3.1.1   "Not to be used by persons who have phenylketonuria".  
6.3.1.2   "The maximum intake shall not exceed 40 mg/kg of body weight".  
6.3.2     In the case of manitol: "Excess of consumed quantity of manitol over 20 g per 
day may cause diarrhea".  
6.3.3  In the case of sorbitol or xylitol: "Excess of consumed quantity of sorbitol or  
xylitol over 40 g per day may cause diarrhea".  
 
6.4 Claims  
6.4.1 Any claims made for the foods covered by this standard shall be in accordance with  
the Gulf Standard ( item 2.2).  
6.4.2 Where a claim is made that the food is suitable for “special dietary use” that food 
shall comply with all  provisions of this standard except as otherwise provided in a Gulf 
Standard ( item 2.3) . 
6.4.3 A food which has not been modified in accordance with Section 3.1 but is suitable 
for use in a particular dietary regimen because of its natural composition, sh all not be 
designated “special dietary” or “special dietetic” or any other equivalent term. However, 
such a food may bear a statement on the label that “this food is by its nature “X” (“X” 
refers to the essential distinguishing characteristic), provided th at such statement does not 
mislead the consumer.  
 
 
3 GSO Standard                                 GSO 05/SC3 FDS/ 654:2012  
 
6.4.4 Claims as to the suitability of a food defined in Section 3.1 for use in the 
prevention, alleviation, treatment or  cure of a disease, disorder or particular physiological 
condition are prohibited unless they are:  
6.4.4.1 in accordance with the provisions of Gulf standards or guidelines for foods for 
special dietary uses, and  follow the principles set forth in such sta ndards or guidelines; or  
 
6.4.4.2 in the absence of an applicable Gulf standard or guideline, permitted under the 
laws of the country in  which the food is distributed.  
 
6.5 Irradiated foods  
Irradiated foods for special dietary uses shall be labeled  in acco rdance with Section 5. 8 of 
the Gulf Standard ( item 2.1) . 
 
6.6 Nothing in this standard shall preclude the adoption of additional or different 
provisions in a Gulf standard s for a food for special dietary use, in respect of labeling , 
where the circumstances of a particular food would justify their incorporation in that 
standard.  
 
7. EXEMPTIONS FROM MANDATORY LABELLING REQUIREMENTS  
Exemptions from mandatory labeling  requirements shall be in accordance with Section 6 
of the Gulf Standa rd ( item 2.1).  
 
8. OPTIONAL LABELLING  
Optional labeling  of foods for special dietary uses shall be in accordance with Section 8 
of the Gulf Standard ( item 2.1) . 
 
9. PRESENTATION OF MANDATORY INFORMATION  
The presentation of the ma ndatory information shall be in accordance with Section 7 of 
the Gulf Standard ( item 2.1) . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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