DOHA: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has issued the statistics of its Food Safety Department for the first half of 2024.
Accordingly, the Food Safety Laboratories Section has analyzed 7,022 samples from imported foodstuffs at the country’s ports while 10,064 samples were analyzed from local food establishments.
It also registered 181 responses to public complaints and inquiries about food safety. The complaints were received through the hotline 16000.
Regarding the registration of foodstuffs and food establishments, MoPH said some 21,457 foodstuffs were approved in the Watheq system, while 883 food establishments were registered.
The department also carried out inspections of food establishments within Qatar which included restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, factories and others.
Some 147 reviews and follow-ups were logged on the registration of operational information for local food establishments.
Authorities inspected 3,221 local food establishments and verified them for compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and technical requirements. They also registered 2,779 follow-up compliance checks on food establishments.
As per statistics in the first half of the year, some 1,279 food handlers were registered, 1,734 food handler permits were issued, and 766 food handler permits were printed.
The Port Health and Food Control Section carried out inspection checks at the Hamad Airport, Hamad Port, Al Ruwais Port, and Abu Samra Land Border.
Authorities checked 60,520 imported food shipments to ensure they met safety standards and complied with relevant regulations and technical requirements.
In the given period some 1,168,695,057kg of imported foodstuffs met requirements, while 985,767kg of non-compliant foodstuffs were destroyed.
The officials also carried out 211 inspections of exported and re-exported food shipments.
They issued 155 export or re-export certificates and 104 food destruction certificates.