Manama: Dr. Lulwa Rashid Showaiter, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, chaired the tenth preparatory meeting of undersecretaries of ministries concerned with food safety in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, held via videoconference. Dr. Showaiter emphasized the importance of continued coordination and cooperation among member states to enhance food safety and protect public health. She acknowledged the efforts of the GCC General Secretariat in organizing the meeting amid recent regional security challenges, which necessitate improved collaboration across all sectors.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Dr. Showaiter expressed Bahrain's appreciation for Kuwait's efforts during its previous presidency, highlighting the progress made in supporting joint GCC initiatives in food safety. She reaffirmed Bahrain's commitment, as the current chair of the ministerial committee on food safety, to build on these achievements.
The meeting addressed several key topics, including the unified food law, the GCC guide for monitoring imported food, the establishment of a GCC food risk assessment center, and mechanisms for imposing and lifting bans on the import of animal-origin food and related products. The meeting concluded with recommendations to be submitted to the tenth meeting of ministers responsible for food safety in GCC countries.