. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/BHR/125 
21 April 2009  
 (09-1873) 
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 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@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 applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   
Chocolate Types (ICS  67.190) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   
Chocolate Types (22 pages, in Arabic)   
6. Description of content:   
This draft technical regulation specifies the re quirements stated in the Gulf standard GSO 
"Chocolate Types" under clauses 7 and 8 (packaging and labeling) as mandatory 
requirements. It specifies the following:  
- The chocolate should be p acked in suitable, hygienic  and sealed packages. The 
packaging material shall not affect the product characteristics. 
- Packages should provide protection for th e contents against damage from external 
environmental factors.  
It also describes label requirements such as :  
- Type of Chocolate. 
- Minimum limit for solid Chocolate. 
- Production and expiration date.  G/TBT/N/BHR/125 
Page 2  
 
  - In the case of products packaged in packages weighing 10 kg or more and not 
intended for retail sale, chocolate type , amount and the name and address of the 
packer is displayed on the product package. 
- In the case of chocolate with cocoa bu tter substitutes, the name of cocoa butter 
substitutes and vegetable oils is stated. 
- In the case of filled chocolates, the type of filling and the percentage of the external 
layer of chocolate is stated. 
- In the case of chocolate tablets, the percentage of the external layer of chocolate as a 
percentage of the total weight is stated. 
And other requirements. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:   
To maintain consumer protection and food safety.  
8. Relevant documents:    
- GSO " Chocolate Types". 
- CFR vol. 21 part 163 "Cocoa Products".  - Overseas Food Legislat ion 1984, second edition. 
- Arab standard ASMD 499:1983 "Cocoa  and Cocoa products – chocolate". 
- EEC 241:1973 "Cocoa a nd Chocolate Products". 
- Egyptian standard ES 465:1972 "Cocoa and its products and methods of testing". 
- Indian standard IS 1163:1971, "Chocolate". 
- Bernard W./1980 "Chocolate, Cocoa a nd Confectionery", Second Edition AVI 
Publishing Company , U.S.A. 
- Proceedings of the International, Sy mposium on Mycotoxins/183: Sponsored by 
Food and Drug Administration,  Rockville, Maryland; Natio nal Research Centre , 
Cairo/Egypt. 
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 po int [ X], or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addres ses, if available of the other body: