Doha, September 22 (QNA) - The Ministry of Public Health is working to gather the views of stakeholders regarding the Food Establishment Classification Program intended to be implemented in the future. The project aims to ensure the application of the highest level of food safety in the State of Qatar in line with advanced international standards.
The classification mechanism for food establishments is fundamentally based on the electronic food safety system "Watheq," which was launched in 2022. The establishments will be classified according to their performance. The Food Safety Department at the Ministry of Public Health established six classification grades based on a risk principle, linking the classification grade to the level of compliance with health regulations.
The Ministry of Public Health organized an introductory workshop on the Food Establishment Classification Program, featuring representatives from the Ministry of Municipality and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, along with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
The workshop discussed implementing mechanisms to develop recommendations that consider the views and opinions of all stakeholders involved in food safety in Qatar.
Director of the Food Safety Department at the Ministry of Public Health Wasan Abdulla Al Baker said in her opening speech, "Organizing this workshop enhances collaboration with food safety stakeholders in Qatar. The workshop provided an opportunity for the Ministry of Public Health to bring together all concerned parties with the aim of developing food monitoring and enhancing food safety and public health by raising food establishments' compliance with health regulations." Head of the Environmental Health Section at the Ministry of Public Health Mubarak Alnaemi also presented an introductory overview of the Food Establishment Classification Program, including its phases and implementation methods.
The Food Establishment Classification Program is one of the important projects implemented by the Food Safety Department at the Ministry of Public Health to ensure the highest levels of food safety and security in Qatar, in accordance with advanced global standards.
The project development began after the adoption of a risk-based inspection mechanism in 2019, in collaboration with international consultants; this is due to the inspection service at the Ministry of Health being accredited by the American National Standards Institute in accordance with the ISO 17020:2012 standard.
The project aims to motivate food establishments to meet health requirements and enhance their compliance with health regulations. At the same time, it seeks to raise consumer awareness, enabling individuals to make better-informed choices about where to order food by providing essential information regarding the establishments' adherence to food safety standards.
The food establishments involved in the classification system are those that provide food services directly to consumers, including hotels, restaurants, fast-food outlets, and cafes. (QNA)