GCC: New Food Products Standards for 2016
Posted By:
Selerant RSA
The Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO) has published a list of new technical regulations regarding food products, packaging materials and animal feed.
This action came after the last session meeting held on May 15, 2016 by the General Committee for Standards (SCS) at Riyadh city in Saudi Arabia.
Which are the Most Significant Changes?
The most significant changes in the new regulation are related to specific food Products.
Apparently, due to continuous increasing growth of the food market in Gulf region and huge trade rate, the GSO has developed some food standard concerns with specific food categories and is looking to reformulate and update a large number of standards in order to be compliant with the international standards (Codex and ISO standards) and to cover new food categories.
The latest changes are expected to give access to complete, accurate and easier food legislation for food manufacturers and exporters. These standards are now available for purchase on the GSO Online Catalogue.
What's New in Regulations?
1. New standards released.
| Standard Number | Standard Name | Related information and application scope |
| GSO 2524:2016 | Flavour Infused Olive Oil | This specification is applicable specifically to flavour Infused olive oils with different kinds of herbs. |
| GSO 2521:2016 | Animal Feed - Corn | This standard is applicable to corn (Zea Mays l species) used in Animal feed. |
| GSO 2522:2016 | Electrolyte Drinks))Sports Drinks | This standard is concerned with Sports Drinks (Electrolyte Drinks) and Sports Drinks (Electrolyte drink) base. |
| GSO 2511:2016 | Pre-packaged whole organic dates | This standard is concerned with organic dates with or without nut. |
| GSO 2513:2016 | Cereal Flakes | This Standard is concerned with the requirements that must be met in Cereal Flakes, and it does not comprise the Corn Flakes, It also includes the requirements of packaging, labeling, and test methods. |
| GSO 2519:2016 | Fermented milk products heat treated after fermentation (long life) | This Standard Is Concerned With Ultra High Temperature (UHT) Fermented Milk And flavoured Fermented Milk (Long Life) For Direct Consumption Or Further Processing In Conformity With The Definitions In Item 3 Of This Standard. |
| GSO 2527:2016 | Certain Canned Vegetables | This Standard applies to certain canned vegetables offered for direct consumption, including for catering purposes or for repackaging if required. It does not apply to the product when indicated as being intended for further processing. This Standard does not cover vegetables that are lacto-fermented, pickled or preserved in vinegar. |
| GSO 2518:2016 | Standard for Cocoa (Cacao syrup) Mass (Cocoa/Chocolate) and Cocoa Cake | This standard applies to cocoa mass (Cocoa syrup/ chocolate) cocoa nibs, and cocoa press cake as defined. |
| GSO 2514:2016 | Pummelos | This Standard applies to commercial varieties of pummelos grown from Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck (syn. C. maxima Merr.), of the Rutaceae family, to be supplied fresh to the consumer, after preparation and packaging. Pummelos for industrial processing are excluded. |
| GSO 2504:2016 | General requirements for the transportation of food (Non-chilled and frozen) | Voluntary application scope. |
| GSO 2506:2016 | Code of good irradiation practice of insect disinfestations of cereal grains | Voluntary application scope. |
| GSO 2517:2016 | Canned sausage | This standard applies to Canned sausage from poultry meat, sheep meat, goat meat, buffalo meat or camel meat. |
| GSO 2512:2016 | MILK PRODUCTS WITH PROBIOTICS | This standard is concerned with dairy products with added probiotics. |
| GSO 2515:2016 | Food packages made of aluminium foil | It concerns with packaging material from aluminium foils and their requirements. |
| GSO 2523:2016 | Concentrates for carbonated beverages | This standard is concerned with the basic requirements of the concentrates that are used in the manufacture of soft drinks. |
| GSO 2516:2016 | Pre-packaged mixed improvers of Arabic coffee | |
| GSO 2520:2016 | Wheat protein products including wheat gluten | This standard concerns with wheat protein products obtained from wheat by different methods. These products are prepared for use in foods that need further preparations and food manufacturing factories. |
| GSO 2526:2016 | Grinded thyme mix | This standard applies to Thyme mix for human consumption and doesn’t apply to the Thyme for industrial purposes. |
| GSO 2525:2016 | Natural Pomegranate Syrup (Debs) | This standard applies Pomegranate Debs and doesn’t include industrial Pomegranate Debs. |
2. Updates of old standards
| Standard Number | Standard Name | Related information and application scope |
| GSO 322:2016 | Chilled chicken | An update for an old release GSO 322:1994 |
| GSO 1328:2016 | Processed meat: Poultry sausage | An update for an old release GSO 1328:2002 |
| GSO 989:2016 | Biscuits | An update for an old release GSO 989:1998 |
| GSO 1869:2016 | Date paste | An update for an old release GSO 1869:2008 |
| GSO 996:2016 | Beef, buffalo, mutton and goat fresh meat | An update for an old release GSO 996:1998 |
| GSO 992:2016 | Yoghurt | An update for an old release GSO 992:2010 |
| GSO 709:2016 | Chewing gum | An update for an old release GSO 709:2010 |
| GSO 1359:2016 | Oats | An update for an old release GSO 1359:2002 |
| GSO 997:2016 | Beef, buffalo, mutton and goat meat, chilled and frozen | An update for an old release GSO 997:1998 |
| GSO 1817:2016 | Canned tuna | An update for an old release GSO 1817:2007 |
| GSO 342:2016 | Cakes | An update for an old release GSO 342:1994 |
These updates will be soon available in our RegData® database. If you want more information feel free to contact us.