The 25th edition of Gulf Food Expo Gulfood 2020, which will be held from February 16 to 20, will kick off today at the Dubai World Trade Center.
The Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology "Standards" announced that it will display in "Gulfood 2020" Emirati regulations and technical regulations related to the food and beverage sector, including three systems that are presented for the first time, namely the Emirates System for Bee Honey Control, which comes into mandatory implementation early next April, and the system The Emirates Control of Juice and Beverage Products, and the Emirates System for the Control of Milk and Dairy Products.
"Gulfood" is considered one of the largest qualitative exhibitions in the world, as it is expected to witness a presence of about 100 thousand visitors from 200 countries, from the legislative, regulatory and production sectors, experts and suppliers, and provides the participants with the opportunity to communicate and see the latest products in the food and beverage industry, and innovations in the field Technical and retail.
The General Manager of "Specifications", Abdullah Abdul Qadir Al-Muaini, said that the authority has completed the issuance of 52 conformity certificates for bee honey products in the country, according to the new system for controlling honey products, pointing out that the markets are currently witnessing the launch of products that have obtained conformity certificates, in packages compatible with the new system , Whether in terms of providing an identification card on the packaging, that includes the basic information about the product, or in terms of the mark of the authority that confirms the conformity of those products with the regulatory system.
He stressed that the authority will implement the UAE mandatory system for controlling honey products, federally, at the beginning of next April, explaining that the system will prevent the circulation of any products that do not provide the required standards for the quality of honey products.
He added that the system will provide additional new levels that enhance consumer access to honey products at high quality rates at high standards, and will provide specific systems that facilitate the flow of local honey exports through recognized and documented quality specifications at the level of regional markets.
Al-Muaini stressed that the system that will prevent the circulation of honey products, which does not have a conformity certificate from “specifications”, will be binding on all producers and importers, pointing out that the authority has contacted honey producers in the country and held meetings with members of the Beekeepers Association, which is under establishment, to coordinate About application of the system.
He added that the new system for controlling honey is the first of its kind at the level of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and strengthens the state's commercial center in the honey sector, noting that the new system provides for the supplier and producing companies to provide a statement card on product packages that includes basic information about the product, such as Production, packing, expiry dates, and product-specific components, in addition to verifying transportation and storage conditions that ensure product quality.
Al-Muaini pointed out that during the Gulfood 2020, the authority will seek to shed light on the relevant Emirati regulations, passing the national mark of the Halal, and the regulations for licensing their use, expecting the granting of the national “Halal” brand to a number of companies during the exhibition, after it received great demand from manufacturers To obtain it for their products, as this mark contributed to facilitating trade exchange between the country and the world, through the globalization of specifications and procedures for granting the mark.