QNA
Doha
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) is actively engaging with stakeholders to gather feedback on the forthcoming Food Establishment Classification Programme. This initiative aims to ensure the highest standards of food safety in Qatar, aligning with advanced international benchmarks.
The classification system will operate through the electronic food safety system ‘Watheq’, launched in 2022. Food establishments will be classified based on their compliance with health regulations, using six different grades determined by a risk-based assessment. This classification will help promote greater adherence to safety standards across the food sector in Qatar.
The MoPH organised an introductory workshop on the Food Establishment Classification Programme, featuring representatives from the Ministry of Municipality (MoM) and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), 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 MoPH Wasan Abdulla Al Baker said in her opening speech, “Organising 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 parties concerned, 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 MoPH Mubarak Alnaemi also presented an introductory overview of the Food Establishment Classification Programme, including its phases and implementation methods.
The Food Establishment Classification Programme is one of the important projects implemented by the Food Safety Department at the MoPH 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 initiative followed the accreditation of the inspection service at the MoPH 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.
