The Peninsula Underlines Qatar's Efforts in Making Country's Food System Safe, Secure

Doha, August 25 (QNA) - Qatari English-language The Peninsula newspaper affirmed that the State of Qatar has been constantly working to make the country's food system safe and secure by adopting technological innovations. In this regard, the Qatari daily underlined the announcement made by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) yesterday of the pilot launch of an electronic food safety system in cooperation with the Food Safety and Environmental Health Departments, the Information System of MoPH, the General Authority of Customs and private companies that implemented the system. The paper said that the system includes three interconnected electronic food control systems for local, imported and exported food, risk-based laboratory analysis to ensure the highest possible level of food controls. The newspaper pointed out that the system will enable electronic inspection of imported and exported food at Hamad International Airport, Hamad Sea Port, Ruwais Port and the Abu Samra land port. It will also facilitate document checking, passing through virtual inspection and determining the size of samples, and issuance of results and automatic release of the complying items as the system is linked to the Customs Authority's Al Ndeeb electronic system, the paper added. The Qatari daily stressed that the food safety control plays a critical role in quality assurance and observance of standards for import, production, processing, preparation and disposal of food products. Food safety control is particularly necessary given the fact that approximately 90 percent of food in Qatar is imported, the newspaper said, adding that the rapid population growth the country is witnessing continues to put increasing pressure on food inspection services and port authorities. In conclusion, The Peninsula said that the State of Qatar has been quick in adopting any new tech developments in every sector and food security and self-sufficiency have been priorities for the country, stressing that the new system will make the country's already safe food system more reassuring for the people. (QNA)