. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/BHR/79 
11 March 2010 
 (10-1300) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Notifying Member:  KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  Food Control Section, Ministry of Health 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  HS Code:  2005, ICS Code:  67.080 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:    
5. Title of the notified document:  Prepackaged Whole Dates  Language:  Arabic  Number 
of pages:  15   
6. Description of content:  This Draft Technical Regulation c oncerns whole dates in pitted or 
unpitted style, packed and ready for direct human consumption and its sampling methods.  
It does not apply to other forms of dates such as pieces or smashed dates or dates for 
industrial purposes or for use as feed.  It specifies definitions, requirements, sampling, 
methods of testing and examination, packi ng, transportation, storage and labelling. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other damage from pests.    
8. Is there a relevant international stan dard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text) Codex Standard For Date N° 143-1985 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[ ] None Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
 [ ] Yes   [ ] No 
 If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:    G/SPS/N/BHR/79 
Page 2  
 
  9. Other relevant documents and language(s ) in which these are available:   
− UNECE Standard DDP-08 (Whole Dates)   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  To be determined. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  To be determined. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  To be determined. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [X] Sixty days  from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  10 May 2010 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
Ms Nujood Khalifa Al-Muqahwi 
Food Control Specialist Ministry of Health P.O. BOX:  12 - Manama 
Kingdom of Bahrain 
Tel:  +(973) 1727 3683 Fax:  +(973) 1727 9253 E-mail:  PHD@health.gov.bh Website:  http://www.moh.gov.bh
 
13. Texts available from:  [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
Ms Nujood Khalifa Al-Muqahwi  
Food Control Specialist Ministry of Health P.O. BOX:  12 - Manama Kingdom of Bahrain Tel:  +(973) 1727 3683 
Fax:  +(973) 1727 9253 
E-mail:  PHD@health.gov.bh Website:  http://www.moh.gov.bh