Kuwait warns cooperatives to comply with food safety requirements

{"#Circular Issuance":"The Financial, Administrative and Cooperative Affairs Sector at the Ministry of Social Affairs in Kuwait has issued a circular to cooperative societies. The circular emphasizes the need for strict compliance with food safety regulations to protect consumers. The Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (PAFN) sets the requirements, including keeping food products separate from detergents and chemicals, maintaining proper storage conditions, and ensuring valid health certificates for food handlers.","#Requirements and Guidelines":"The circular outlines specific guidelines for cooperative societies. These include keeping food products separate from detergents and chemicals in display and storage areas, maintaining suitable temperatures for refrigerated and frozen products, and ensuring that products are not displayed or sold if they are expired, damaged, or unfit. Cooperatives are also instructed to isolate any products suspected of being unsafe and to maintain clear packaging and production/expiry dates. Hygiene requirements for markets, warehouses, and vehicles used to transport food are also emphasized.","#Prohibition of Practices":"The circular bans the repackaging of food in a way that exposes it to contamination and the circulation of products of unknown origin. It also mandates obtaining approval from concerned authorities prior to the circulation of products and allowing PAFN inspectors to check food items and records, collect samples, and implement decisions to withdraw, destroy, or suspend the circulation of non-compliant products."}