Palestinian Standards and Metrology Institution Holds Workshop on Mandatory Technical Instructions for Food Additives
Ramallah — The Palestinian Standards and Metrology Institution held today at the Palestinian Red Crescent Society a workshop on the Mandatory Technical Instructions for Food Additives, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the German National Metrology Institute (PTB), as part of the Quality Infrastructure Support Project in Palestine.
The workshop was opened by Mr. Ibrahim Al-Qadi, Director General of the Consumer Protection Directorate at the Ministry of Economy, and Eng. Adeeb Al-Qaimari, Head of the Food Additives Working Group, who welcomed the attendees. Al-Qaimari emphasized that the main goal of the workshop was to review the requirements and provisions of the mandatory technical instructions related to food additives, their objectives, the scope of application, the permitted food additives, conditions for their use across different food categories, and the lists of additives including carriers, enzymes, flavorings, and nutrients along with their usage conditions.
Al-Qaimari pointed out that since its establishment, the institution has focused on preparing standards and mandatory technical instructions concerning food products, especially food additives, due to their significant impact on consumer health and safety. He also highlighted the institution’s efforts to raise awareness among consumers and the private sector about food additives, stressing the necessity for all operators—local producers and importers alike—to comply with these relevant mandatory technical requirements.
He added that these mandatory technical instructions, numbered (81/2019) along with their amendments, set forth rules for food additives used in food products and administrative provisions for producers and food inspectors, supported by annexes aimed at ensuring the effective functioning of the Palestinian market.
During the workshop, Eng. Adeeb Al-Qaimari presented an introduction to the mandatory technical instructions, requirements for labeling food additives, and the rules and provisions for implementing these instructions.
Eng. Saber Al-Amleh, Head of the Food Safety Department at the Ministry of Economy, discussed the objectives and scope of these instructions, providing a detailed explanation of the approved food additive regulations and usage restrictions.
Eng. Suha Arrar, Head of the Food Safety Division at the Ministry of Health, gave an overview of the list of permitted food additives and the conditions for their use in different food categories, including carrier substances allowed in food additives, enzymes, flavorings, and nutrients along with their usage conditions.
The workshop concluded with remarks from Eng. Haider Hajjeh, Director General of the Institution, who expressed his sincere thanks to all supporters, partners, technical committee members, and the teams responsible for preparing the standards. He urged factory and company owners to adhere strictly to standards that ensure quality, improve the level of industrial products, and enhance competitiveness.