Philippines: Food exporters advised to meet Saudi standards

Manila Standard Today

imagesThe Trade Department told food exporters and manufacturers to comply with the maximum residue limits for pesticides on food products imposed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority required importers of food products to use Codex Alimentarius standards as the reference in the absence of a specific minimum residue limit on pesticides.

Codex international food standards and guidelines are based on the best available science adopted by independent international risk assessment bodies, or ad-hoc consultations organized by Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization.

Saudi Arabia is considered an important market in the Middle East for Philippine Halal exports.

Food exports to Gulf Cooperation Council countries that include Saudi Arabia are projected to reach $49 billion by 2020, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Saudi Arabia said if an allowable limit was not indicated either in Saudi Arabia or Gulf Cooperation Council, the European Union or United States standards should be considered, whichever was less.

Saudi Arabia said it would adopt the maximum level of 0.01 milligram/kilogram should a pesticide residue limit was not incorporated in above standards.

“All Saudi and GCC standards concerning MRLs shall be met,” it said.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority said they were adopting these well-defined maximum residue limit to safeguard consumer health.