. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/BHR/198 
3 May 2010  
 (10-2391) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  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 telephone 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@commerce.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 applicab le, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable):  Infants Formula and 
Formula for Special Medical Purposes Intended for Infants (ICS:  67.000) 
5. Title, number of pages and langu age(s) of the notified document:  Infants Formula and 
Formula for Special Medical Purposes Intended for Infants (Arabic, 31 pages;  English, 
29 pages).     
6. Description of content:  This draft technical regulation specifies the requirements stated in 
the Gulf standard GSO/CAC 72 "Infants Formula and Formula for Special Medical Purposes Intended for Infants" under clau se 8 and 10 (packaging and labelling) as 
mandatory requirements.  It specifies the following:  
1. The product shall be packed in containers wh ich will safeguard the hygienic and other 
qualities of the food.  When in liquid form, th e product shall be packed in hermetically 
sealed containers;  nitrogen and carbon dioxide may be used as packing media; 
2. The containers, including packaging materials,  shall be made only of substances which 
are safe and suitable for their intended uses.  
It also describes label requirements such as:  1. The Name of the Food; 
2. List of Ingredient; 
3. Declaration of Nutritive Value; G/TBT/N/BHR/198 
Page 2  
 
  4. Date Marking and Storage Instructions; 
5. Information for Use; 
6. Additional Labelling Requirements such as: 
a. Labels should not discourage breastfeeding.  Each container label shall have a 
clear, conspicuous and easily readable message which includes the following 
points:  
i. the words "important notice" or their equivalent; 
ii. the statement "Breast milk is the best food for your baby" or a similar 
statement as to the superiority of breastfeeding or breast milk;  
iii. a statement that the product should only be used on advice of a 
independent health worker as to th e need for its use and the proper 
method of use.  
b. The label shall have no pictures of infants and women nor any other picture or 
text which idealizes the use of infant formula; 
c. The terms "humanized", "maternalized" or other similar terms shall not be 
used;  
d. Information shall appear on the label to  the effect that infants should receive 
complementary foods in addition to the fo rmula, from an age that is appropriate 
for their specific growth and developmen t needs, as advised by an independent 
health worker, and in any case from the age over six months; 
e. The products shall be labelled in such a way as to avoid any risk of confusion 
between infant formula, follow-up form ula, and formula for special medical 
purposes. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the natu re of urgent problems where applicable:  
To maintain consumer protection and food safety.  
8. Relevant documents:    
- GSO/CAC 72 "Infants Formula and Formula for Special Medical Purposes Intended 
for Infants" 
- Australia New Zealand Food Standards C ode – Amendment No. 108-2009 (page3).  
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:   }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 addresses, if available of the other body: