. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/TBT/N/BHR/253 
7 December 2011  
 (11-6346) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member:  KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN  
If applicable, name of local governme nt 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@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):  Requirements for breast 
milk substitutes, ICS: 67 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Requirements for breast 
milk substitutes, (6 pages in Arabic, 5 pages in English). 
6. Description of content:  This draft technical regulation spec ifies the requirements stated in 
the Gulf standard GSO 223 "Requirements for br east milk substitutes"  under clauses 2.4 as 
mandatory requirements. Th ese requirements are:  
- Declare the following information in a clear, legible and easily read form on each 
 container of the breast-milk substitutes: 
 A statement ensuring superiority of brea st feeding, to be preceded by the 
words "Important notice". 
 The text of the label and all other information accompanying the product 
shall be  written in th e appropriate languages. 
 The name of the product "infant formula"  - shall be indicating the true nature 
of the product, in accordance with national usage. 
 The sources of protein in the product shall be clearly shown on the label. 
 A product which contains either milk or any milk derivatives shall be 
labelled "contains no milk or milk products" or an equivalent phrase. G/TBT/N/BHR/253 
Page 2  
 
   If cows' milk is the only source of protein, the product may be labelled 
"Infant Formula" based on cows' milk. 
 The label shall have no pictures of in fants and women nor any other picture 
or text  which idealizes th e use of infant formula. 
 The terms "humanized" "maternalized" shall not be used. 
 Instructions for appropri ate preparation, and a wa rning about the health 
hazards of inappropriate prep aration, storage and use. 
 In addition to the above, the label shall include the following:  
– List of ingredients declared in  descending order of proportion. 
– Nutritive value and product ingredients (e nergy – portion of protein, carbohydrates, 
 vitamins and minerals ) per 100 gm or 100 mm. 
– Information for use. 
– Storage conditions required. – Batch number, date of production and expi ry date in a non-coded manner; provided 
 that the expiry period shall not exceed 18 months as from the date of production. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:  To 
maintain consumer protection and food safety.  
8. Relevant documents:    
- GSO 223 "Requirements for breast milk substitutes". 
- Codex standard  no. 72 "Require ments for breast milk substitutes 
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 addres ses, if available of the other body: