Qatar Revises Precautionary Requirements for Food Imports

Qatar issued an updated list of precautionary requirements for imported foods, dated 1 October 2026, replacing the version of 10 August 2026.

The update introduces conditional exemptions from Certificates of Conformity for Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, as well as for foods re-exported from GCC Member States, subject to compliance with the relevant circulars.

Key requirements include:

• Spices from India: approved third-party Certificate of Conformity covering applicable requirements, including pesticide residues and mycotoxins.

• Sesame and sesame-containing products from Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and India: documentation confirming the absence of ethylene oxide.

• Processed foods from South Korea and the Philippines, and irradiated foods: approved third-party Certificate of Conformity.

• Geneticcally modified and organic foods: registration and approval in WATHEQ.

• Foods containing animal-origin ingredients: Halal certification from a Ministry-approved body where applicable.

• Hemp and poppy seeds: import prohibited from all countries, including their use in mixtures and finished foods.

Importers should check the latest list before shipment, as requirements may be further updated.