The Ministry of Public Health in Qatar has launched a comprehensive action plan to monitor and control different types of food contaminants for the next five years. The new plan is part of the goals of the World Health Organization’s Global Food Safety Strategy 2022-2030, which aims to reduce foodborne diseases.

The Ministry of Public Health indicated in a statement that the plan began to be implemented in early 2024. The monitoring team at the Ministry’s Food Safety Department analyzed data from 400,000 test results (sample tests) and more than 30,000 samples withdrawn from regulatory authorities in 2023 to develop programs to identify, monitor and control potential contaminants in food in Qatar.

The project also includes preparing and issuing monitoring reports on pesticide residues in imported and local vegetables and fruits in collaboration with the inspection departments and food safety laboratories at the Food Safety Department.

The report was submitted to the Food Risk Management Team at the Ministry of Public Health. Recommendations were also issued to implement the necessary preventive measures to ensure the highest level of safety of vegetables and fruits traded in Qatar.