Cotecna Helps You Meet Qatar's Food Labelling Requirements.
Cotecna is an authorized body for the Qatar Food Conformity Assessment Programme, supporting exporters in ensuring their food product shipments meet the country’s regulatory standards including strict labelling requirements.
Proper labelling is mandatory for all food products entering Qatar and is closely inspected at customs. Failing to comply can result in delays, rejections, or penalties.
If you're planning to export food to Qatar, here’s what you need to know about labelling.
Mandatory Food Labelling Requirements in Qatar
All food products must carry a clear, accurate, and compliant label. The following information is required:
- Product Name
Clearly state the name of the food product. - List of Ingredients
All ingredients must be listed in descending order by weight. - Nutritional Information
Provide nutritional values (calories, protein, fat, carbohydrates, etc.). - Net Weight & Drained Weight
Indicate the weight of the product and, if applicable, the weight without liquid. - Name and Address of Manufacturer or Packer
Include complete and accurate details of the responsible entity. - Country of Origin
Clearly mention where the product was manufactured or packaged. - Production and Expiry Dates
Dates must follow the DD/MM/YYYY format and be printed, not stamped or handwritten. - Storage and Usage Instructions
Provide clear guidance for storage conditions and how the product should be used or prepared. - Lot or Batch Identification
This helps with traceability and must be present on the packaging. - Irradiation Status
If the food has been irradiated, this must be clearly indicated.
Label Language Requirements
- Labels must be in Arabic.
- Bilingual labels (Arabic and English) are accepted and encouraged for wider understanding.
- All text must be clear, non-misleading, and durably printed (not easily erasable).
How Cotecna Supports Exporters
Cotecna’s role includes verifying that your food labels meet Qatar’s regulatory standards as part of the pre-export conformity assessment process. We help to:
- Review your label content and format
- Highlight missing or incorrect details
- Ensure your products are compliant before shipment
Our goal is to help you avoid clearance issues at the port and ensure a smooth, compliant export process.
Contact us or download our free Qatar exporter guide for more information.
About Cotecna
For over 50 years, we have been supporting agriculture, food and pharma, minerals and metals, and consumer products supply chains all over the world. We provide testing, inspection, and certification services to help our clients navigate evolving regulations, ensure product compliance, and support their sustainability journey.