G/TBT/N/BHR/346  
 
13 May 2014  
(14-2913)  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 applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): 
Prepackaged Whole Dates (ICS: 67.080) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Prepackaged 
Whole Dates (17 pages in English, 11 pages in Arabic). 
6. Description of content: This draft technical regulation specifies the requirements stated 
in the Gulf standard GSO "Prepackaged Whole Dates" under clauses 8 & 9 (packaging & 
labelling) as mandatory requirements. It specifies that dates shall be packed in suitable, clean, dry and water proof containers (food grade) to protect the product from contamination. 
The packaging shall also comply with the following Gulf standard: 
•  GSO standard No. 839 "Food Packages – Part 1: General Requirements". • GSO standard No. 1363 "Food Packages - Part 2: Plastic Packages - General 
Requirements". 
•  GSO standard No. 1791 "Three piece rouned steel cans used for canning food stuffs". 
It also describes label requirements such as: 
1. It should be without prejudice to what mentioned in Gulf Standard GSO 9 "Labelling of 
Prepackaged Foods". 
2. The following shall be declared on the label of the product: •  Name of the product: 
   - "Dates", "dates coated with glucose syrup" or "filled dates". 
   - "Unpitted" or "pitted" in addition to the size (small, medium or large). G/TBT/N/BHR/346 
 
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     - The name of the variety such as Red Sukkari, Yellow Sukkari, Khalas, Khudri. 
   - Whether it is "pressed", "loose" or in "clusters". •  Name of the additives (if used). 
•  The stuff type or coating material (if any). 
•  Country of origin. •  The words "saved with irradiation" in the case of the use of irradiation and use the 
private irradiated foods logo. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable: To maintain consumer protection and food safety.  
8. Relevant documents: 
- GSO "Prepackaged Whole Dates" 
- UNECE Standard DDP-08 (DATES) 2010 
- (Codex) Standard for Date No.143-1985  
9. Proposed date of adoption: 
Proposed date of entry into force:   To be determined 
To be determined 
10. Final date for comments: 60 days from the notification date 
11. Text available from:  National enquiry point [X], or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresse s, if available of the other body: