Qatar launches food safety rating programme for food establishments

QATAR – The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has introduced a Food Safety Rating Programme to assess and classify food establishments across the country.

The initiative is designed to ensure that restaurants, hotels, and other food-serving businesses comply with health and safety regulations.

The classification system groups establishments into six categories: Urgent Improvement Necessary, Major Improvement Necessary, Improvement Necessary, Good, Very Good, and Excellent.

Consumers can access these ratings through the “Watheq” electronic food safety platform, while businesses have the option to display their classification on-site.

Phased Implementation and Current Progress

The programme is being implemented in three stages, with the first two phases already completed. These phases focused on hotels and restaurants in tourist areas and shopping malls.

The third phase, set to begin in the third quarter of 2025, will cover all other food establishments providing direct services to consumers.

As of February 16, 2025, a total of 1,284 establishments have been rated under the initiative.

During the launch event, 51 businesses that achieved “Excellent” and “Very Good” ratings were recognized for their compliance with food safety standards.

Event and Stakeholder Participation

The official launch took place at the Itqan Clinical Simulation and Innovation Center in Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City (HBKMC).

Representatives from the Ministries of Commerce and Industry, Municipality, and Education and Higher Education attended the event. Officials from the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Qatar Tourism, Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology, and Qatar University were also present, along with business owners from the hospitality sector.

Wasan Abdulla Al Baker, Director of the Food Safety Department at MoPH, stated that the initiative aims to align food establishments with global health and safety standards.

She highlighted that the classification system was developed using technical criteria to ensure transparency in food safety assessments and provide consumers with clear information on compliance levels.

Al Baker added that the programme is a key part of the ministry’s efforts to prevent foodborne illnesses and encourage businesses to improve food safety practices.

Inspection and Compliance Measures

Mubarak Al Naemi, Head of the Environmental Health Section at MoPH, gave a presentation on the programme’s structure and its implementation process.

Food establishments registered under the programme are subject to at least three inspection visits, with additional assessments conducted regularly.

The rating system was developed using a risk-based inspection approach in collaboration with international consultants.

A two-year field study was carried out before the programme’s final design to ensure it meets Qatar’s food safety regulations.

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