Protocol For

Handling Personal Foods Imported

During the Hosting of Sport Events
Food Safety Department / Ministry of Public Health

First Version
August 2023

1
 Table of Content
S Contents Page
1 Table of Contents 2
2 Introduction 3
3 Definitions: 4
General requirements for incoming personal food shipments for use by teams and
4 5
organizers:
Steps of Controlling personal food shipments for the use of teams and organizing
5 6
agencies:
6 Related Technical Decisions: 6
Exceptions given to relevant to incoming personal food shipments for the use of teams
7 6
and organizers:
8 General recommendations and directions: 7
9 Imported food for the use of sponsoring companies: 7
10 Appendix “1”: Commitment for special use of foodstuff 8
11 Appendix “2”: Workflow of inspection steps 9

2
Introduction
Qatar hosts many international sports and other events. After hosting World Cup FIFAQATAR2022, attention
increased to Qatar due to the exceptional success during the hosting of the World Tournament.
An important aspect related to events organization is safety of food offered during tournament, including local
restaurants, importation, and preparation. In addition to personalized foods for the use of sports teams and
event organizing committees.
Food Safety Department – Ministry of Public Health, the competent authority responsible on food safety in
Qatar, prepared this protocol to clarify the requirements and measures of handling these types of food, by
organizers, partners, and stakeholders of all upcoming events on international or national level.
The protocol is designed in an easy and direct way, and the content includes clear steps and requirements that
assure highest possible level of food safety, facilitating final release of imported food, and to ensure safety and
maintenance of food supply chain without any disruptions or interruptions.
The protocol was developed based on Ministry of Public Health experience during the World Cup, taking into
consideration challenges and achievements that were managed with great competence during its hosting.
Food Safety Department ensure conformity of imported foods with relevant technical regulations, standard
and specifications, requirements including Halal requirements. Pork, alcoholic beverages, and other similar
foods not under MOPH responsibility.
This protocol related to food imported for teams and their staff use or for organizers staff personal use, and
not related to food imported for commercial purposes during events, such as those imported for restaurants,
retails, or for free distribution to participants and the public by companies sponsoring the tournament, as these
types of food are subject to the regulations and requirements for importing regular commercial food, taking into
account the possibility of certain exceptions regarding validity, language, health claims, and notices that apply.

3
Definitions:
For the purpose of implementing this protocol, the following terminologies and expressions intend to have the
meanings assigned to them, unless the context requires otherwise:
Ministry:
Ministry of Public Health.
Minister:
Minister of Public Health.
Food:
Any substance or part of a substance intended for human consumption through eating or drinking,
whether it is raw material, processed or semi-processed, including drinks and chewing gum, and any
substance involved in the manufacturing, production and preparation processes, excluding live animals
before slaughter, plants before harvesting, and fish before fishing, cosmetics, tobacco, medical products
and drugs.
Limited personal use:
Specified amount of food enough to be consumed by one person within 7 days.
Risk Analysis:
A scientific approach aimed to assess the risks and benefits associated with food and / managing risks
through three components: risk management, risk assessment, and risk communication.
Personal Food:
Non-commercial food imported with passengers or through various means of shipping for the purpose of
direct consumption by individuals, which are not traded for commercial purposes or for any other purpose
other than its intended use.
Technical Regulations:
A mandatory official document approved by Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology
that specifies food characteristics, production methods and processes relevant to ensuring the safety
and suitability of food for human consumption. It may also include terms, symbols, data, description,
packaging, composition, labeling, and label requirements that apply to the product or methods and
procedures for its production.
Requirements:
Laws, technical regulations, standard specifications, technical requirements, procedures, inspections,
testing, and other operations necessary to carry out the inspection process, throughout the stages of
the food chain.
Health and precautionary measures:
Measures applied to protect the consumer’s health from potential risks arising from food throughout the
stages of the food chain.

4
Food Safety:
Ensuring that food does not cause harm to the consumer when it is prepared and/or consumed according
to its intended use.
Food Suitability:
Ensuring that the food is acceptable for human consumption according to its intended use.
Food Inspection:
The process of examining food throughout the stages of the food chain to verify its conformity with
certain requirements. This includes inspecting and reviewing documents, testing, direct inspection,
sampling and analysis, or any other approved measures.
Consignment:
A specific quantity of food commodity, covered by a single certificate, comprising part of one batch or
several batches at a time.
Temporary release:
An official procedure documented by notification, according to which food consignments are allowed to
be transported from the port of entry to food trading facilities in the country without disposal, until a
final decision is determined.

General requirements for incoming personal food shipments for use by teams and
organizers:
1. Food type not listed as prohibited food in the list of conditions/ precautionary measures of food commodities
imported to the State of Qatar. This list is published on the website of the Ministry of Public Health, which
is periodically updated. Ministry of Public Health - Home (moph.gov.qa)
2. Food should be transported in conditions that maintain its safety and suitability in terms of temperature,
humidity, and other factors.
3. Food should be easily accessible for the purpose of inspection, and not in unreachable place or closed boxes.
4. The shipments should be accompanied by packing lists or clear data for the imported food, with pictures,
where needed, to facilitate the inspection process.
5. All required documents must be attached with customs declaration in the electronic system, including
“commitment for personal use” document (Appendix 1).
6. Company’s representative or the clearance company who has full knowledge of shipment contents / location
of food and detailed information about it should be available during inspection.

5
Steps of Controlling personal food shipments for the use of teams and organizing
agencies:
First: Verify submission and compliance of required documents to the Ministry of Public Health, which are:
1. Packing list/invoice
2. Commitment for personal use, assuring that imported food is for private uses only, not for any other
purpose, and to re-export or destroy the remaining quantity.
3. Commitment can be submitted a separate form, or as a part of shipment’s invoice/ packing list.

Second: Physical inspection to ensure alignment with invoice/packing list and ensure that food is free of damage
/ significant defects

Third: Taking samples for laboratory analysis where needed ( this will be in limited cases as possible).

Related Technical Decisions:

According to the result of inspection and control, one of the following decisions will be taken regarding incoming
personal shipments:
1. Final release of foods that meet the requirements.
2. Temporary release to complete the inspection teams location in case the required documents are delayed,
or the inability to inspect the food items at the port of arrival.
3. Appropriate decision is taken directly in case of non-conformity or after referring to the administration,
such as destruction or re-export.

Exceptions given to relevant to incoming personal food shipments for the use of
teams and organizers:
1. Exemption from attaching a health certificate.
2. Exemption food label from the following requirements:
a. Arabic language.
b. Date of production if the expiry date is written on label.
c Shelf life more than accepted in Qatar.
d. Health and nutrition claims.
e. Allowing food additives that are not approved in Qatar but permitted in other countries.

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General recommendations and directions:
1. Import food quantity according to expected needs, not more.
2. Verify and ensure food safety of imported food at country of origin through official authorities or qualified
agencies before importation.
3. Transporting food in containers separate from non-food items that may affect the safety or quality of the
food.
4. The requirements of this guide apply to all countries without any discrimination or bias.

Imported food for the use of sponsoring companies:

Imported food for the use of sponsoring companies means that foods imported for use of sponsors in their own
promotion and advertisement as a part of their rights as a sponsoring company. MOPH will apply the same
requirements mentioned in this guide to this type of food except requirement to attach Health Certificates or
phytosanitary Certificates with such shipments.
Health Certificates or phytosanitary Certificates should be:
1. Issued by an official body or by a company permitted by Ministry of Public Health as a third party (permitted
list available on MOPH website: Ministry of Public Health - Publications (moph.gov.qa))
2. Related to the shipment: contain a description of the incoming items or the invoice number
3. Contain health statements / attestations ensuring that it conforms to the requirements of the Qatari
technical regulations, or that it is suitable for human consumption.

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 ‫”‪Appendix “1‬‬
‫‪Commitment for special use of foodstuff‬‬

‫□ ص ‪Am‬‬ ‫الساعة‬ ‫اليوم والتاريخ‬

‫م ‪Pm‬‬ ‫□‬ ‫‪Time‬‬ ‫‪Day / Date‬‬

‫عنوانه بالتفصيل‬ ‫إسم وبيانات المستورد ‪ /‬المستخدم ‪ /‬الفريق‬

‫‪Address‬‬ ‫‪Importer/User/Team, Name / Information‬‬

‫منفذ الوصول‬ ‫رقم البيان الجمركي‬

‫‪Port of Entry‬‬ ‫‪Customs declaration No.‬‬

‫رقم هاتف شركة التخليص‬ ‫شركة التخليص ومندوبها‬

‫‪Clearance Phone No.‬‬ ‫‪Clearance Agent Information‬‬

‫تاريخ المناسبة (من – الى)‬ ‫اسم المناسبة ‪ /‬النشاط‬

‫)‪Event Date (from-To‬‬ ‫‪The name of Event / Activity‬‬

‫‪For organizer’s use‬‬ ‫الستخدام الفرق والكادر االداري‬ ‫□‬ ‫الستخدام المناسبة من قبل الشركات الراعية ‪For Teams and Staff use‬‬ ‫□‬ ‫نوع االستخدام‬

‫‪For The event use by sponsors‬‬ ‫□ الستخدام الجهة المنظمة‬ ‫‪Usage Type‬‬

‫الوزن ‪ /‬العدد‬ ‫المنشأ‬ ‫العالمة التجارية‬ ‫اسم المادة الغذائية‬ ‫م‬

‫‪Weight / Number‬‬ ‫‪Origin‬‬ ‫‪Brand Name‬‬ ‫‪Name of Foodstuff‬‬ ‫‪S‬‬

‫‪1‬‬

‫‪2‬‬

‫‪3‬‬

‫‪4‬‬

‫‪5‬‬

‫ ‪Commitment:‬‬
‫‪With reference to importer and food shipment’s details above, and since I am‬‬
‫‪authorized importer, I pledge to use these foods, only for the Usage Type mentioned‬‬
‫‪above only, and not to handle it for any other purpose under any condition, without a‬‬
‫‪written permission from the Ministry of Public Health. Re-export or destroy remaining‬‬
‫‪quantity. All liability for this undertaking.‬‬
‫التعهد‪:‬‬
‫إشــارة الــى البيانــات الخاصــة بالمســتورد والشــحنة الغذائيــة المبينــة تفاصيلهــا أعــاه وحيــث اننــي مفــوض‬
‫الشــركة المســتوردة‪ ،‬اتعهــد بااللتــزام بنــوع االســتخدام المبيــن أعــاه فقــط‪ ،‬وعــدم تداولهــا لغيــر الهــدف الــذي‬
‫تــم االســتيراد ألجلــه الي ســبب مــن األســباب بــدون تصريــح خطــي مــن وزارة الصحــة العامــة بذلــك‪ ،‬وإعــادة‬
‫تصديــر او اتــاف الكميــة المتبقيــة منهــا‪ .‬واتحمــل كافــة المســؤولية القانونيــة عــن هــذا التعهــد‪.‬‬

‫بيانات المستورد ‪Importer Information‬‬

‫االسم والتوقيع ‪………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….......…………… : Name & Signature‬‬

‫الوظيفة ‪.…………............................………………………………………………………………………………………......…………………………………………………………………………………………......……………………… :Job position‬‬

‫التاريخ ‪…………………......…………........………………………………………………………………………………......………………......………………………………………………………………………………......…………………………… : Date‬‬

‫يرفق هذا التعهد ضمن وثائق الشحنة لتدقيقها من قبل مفتش وزارة الصحة العامة‬
‫‪Attach this Commitment with the shipment’s Documents to be verified by MOPH inspector.‬‬

‫‪8‬‬
 ‫”‪Appendix “2‬‬
‫‪Workflow of inspection steps‬‬
‫‪Steps of Controlling Food shipments for personal food use‬‬
‫الية (خطوات) الرقابة على شحنات األغذية الواردة لالستخدام الشخصي‬

‫‪Regular Commercial Shipments not included‬‬ ‫ارساليات الغذاء ذات الصلة باختصاص قسم صحة المنافذ ومراقبة‬ ‫‪Pork / Pork products / Alcohol Drinks‬‬
‫االرساليات التجارية االعتيادية غير مشمولة‬ ‫األغذية‬ ‫‪not included‬‬
‫‪Food Shipments Related to Port Health Responsibilities‬‬ ‫الخنزير ومنتجات الخنزير والمشروبات‬
‫الكحولية غير مشمولة‬

‫‪Imported for special event use‬‬ ‫‪Imported for team use‬‬ ‫‪Food for Admin Staff‬‬
‫مستوردة لغايات نشاطات خاصة بكأس العالم‬ ‫مستوردة الستخدام الفرق الخاص‬ ‫أغذية للكادر االداري‬

‫‪Required documents for MOPH:‬‬ ‫كالهما ‪Both‬‬

‫‪1.‬‬ ‫‪Packing List / Invoice.‬‬
‫‪2.‬‬ ‫‪Health or Phytosanitary Certificate‬‬
‫‪3.‬‬ ‫‪Halal / Halal Slaughtering Certificate meat, meat products, and food animal‬‬
‫‪origin ingredients.‬‬
‫‪4.‬‬ ‫‪Below Commitment as part of the Invoice or as a single document:‬‬
‫‪With reference to importer and food shipment’s detailed, and since I am authorized‬‬
‫‪by the imported company, I pledge to use these foods, only for …...Activity, and not‬‬
‫‪to handle it for any other purpose under any condition, without a written permission‬‬
‫‪from the Ministry of Public Health. Re-export or destroy remaining quantity. All‬‬
‫‪liability for this undertaking.‬‬
‫المستندات المطلوبة لوزارة الصحة العامة‬
‫‪1.‬قائمة التعبئة ‪ /‬الفاتورة‬
‫‪2.‬الشهادة الصحية او الشهادة الصحية الزراعية الصادرة حسب االصول‬
‫‪3.‬شهادة الحالل او شهادة الذبح الحالل من الهيئات المعتمدة‬
‫‪4.‬التعهد بحسب النص أدناه كجزء من الفاتورة أو كمستند مستقل‪:‬‬
‫«باإلشارة إلى تفاصيل المستورد وشحن المواد الغذائية‪ ،‬وبما أنني مرخص لي من قبل‬
‫الشركة المستوردة‪ ،‬أتعهد باستخدام هذه األطعمة‪ ،‬فقط لـ ‪ ، ... ...‬وليس للتداول ألي غرض‬
‫آخر تحت أي ظرف من الظروف ‪ ،‬دون إذن كتابي من وزارة الصحة العامة واتعهد بإعادة‬
‫تصدير أو إتالف الكمية المتبقية‪ .‬واتحمل المسؤولية عن هذا التعهد»‪.‬‬
‫‪Required documents for MOPH:‬‬
‫‪1.‬‬ ‫‪Packing List / Invoice.‬‬
‫‪2.‬‬ ‫‪Below Commitment as part of the Invoice or as a single document:‬‬
‫‪With reference to importer and food shipment’s detailed, and since I am‬‬
‫‪authorized by the imported company, I pledge to use these foods, only for‬‬
‫‪…..., and not to handle it for any other purpose under any condition, with-‬‬
‫‪out a written permission from the Ministry of Public Health. Re-export or‬‬
‫‪destroy remaining quantity. All liability for this undertaking.‬‬
‫المستندات المطلوبة لوزارة الصحة العامة‬
‫‪1.‬قائمة التعبئة ‪ /‬الفاتورة‬
‫‪2.‬التعهد بحسب النص أدناه كجزء من الفاتورة أو كمستند مستقل‪:‬‬
‫“باإلشارة إلى تفاصيل المستورد وشحن المواد الغذائية‪ ،‬وبما أنني مرخص لي‬
‫من قبل الشركة المستوردة‪ ،‬أتعهد باستخدام هذه األطعمة‪ ،‬فقط لـ ‪، ... ...‬‬
‫وليس للتداول ألي غرض آخر تحت أي ظرف من الظروف ‪ ،‬دون إذن كتابي من‬
‫وزارة الصحة العامة واتعهد بإعادة تصدير أو إتالف الكمية المتبقية‪ .‬واتحمل‬
‫المسؤولية عن هذا التعهد”‪.‬‬

‫‪1.‬‬ ‫‪Physical Inspection‬‬ ‫•‬ ‫‪Physical Inspection‬‬

‫‪2.‬‬ ‫‪Lab analysis where required based on the physical inspection‬‬
‫‪1.‬بعد تدقيق الوثائق يتم اجراء الكشف الظاهري للتحقق من خلو المنتج من مظاهر‬
‫الفساد العامة ومطابقته لألصناف الواردة في الفاتورة او قائمة التعبئة‬
‫‪2.‬يتم سحب عينات للتحليل المخبري عند الحاجة وفقا لمستوى خطورة المنتجات‬
‫ونتائج الكشف الظاهري‬
‫•‬ ‫‪Lab analysis where required based on the physical inspection‬‬
‫ •بعد تدقيق الوثائق يتم اجراء الكشف الظاهري للتحقق من خلو المنتج‬
‫من مظاهر الفساد العامة ومطابقته لألصناف الواردة في الفاتورة او‬
‫قائمة التعبئة‬
‫ •يتم سحب عينات للتحليل المخبري في حالة الشك في سالمة المنتجات‬
‫وصالحيتها فقط (التحقق من الخلو من مظاهر الفساد العامة)‬

‫كالهما ‪Both‬‬

‫‪In case of incompliance: take the right decision for final release‬‬ ‫‪In case of incompliance: take the right decision directly or call your management‬‬
‫في حال المطابقة يرجى التكرم باتخاذ القرار باإلفراج النهائي عن االرسالية‬ ‫‪as required‬‬
‫في حال عدم المطابقة ‪ /‬اتخاذ القرار المناسب مباشرة او بعد الرجوع لإلدارة ان‬
‫تطلب االمر ذلك‬

‫تقبل األصناف في حال عدم وجود لغة عربية‪ ،‬و ‪ /‬أو طول الصالحية‪ ،‬و ‪ /‬أو وجود االدعاءات الصحية‬
‫‪Food items accepted if imported without Arabic label, and / or long shelf life, and / or contain claims.‬‬

‫‪9‬‬
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