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| Export Requirements for Bahrain |
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BA-3 - (Feb 24, 2004)
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Eligible/Ineligible Products
- Eligible
- Fresh/frozen meat and poultry products.
Slaughter Requirements
- Ritual-Islamic Halal slaughter requirements apply
Labeling Requirements
- For all products, storage temperature must be placed with the refrigeration
statement on the boxes to fully clarify the type of product being handled.
(EXAMPLE: "KEEP FROZEN - STORE AT OR BELOW ______ °
C; KEEP CHILLED (OR REFRIGERATED) - STORE BETWEEN ______ ° C AND ______ ° C."
- In addition to the labeling features mandatory in the United States, packaged
meat and poultry must bear the following features:
- Bilingual labels - Arabic and English.
- Country of origin
- Production (slaughtering or freezing) and expiration dates are required
only on shipping containers for institutional packaging.
- Date format requirements for Bahrain must conform to the following:
Day/Month/Year for products with a shelf life of six (6) months or less
and Month/Year for products with a shelf life of more than six (6)
months. Dating should be in numeric format and bilingual
(English/Arabic).*
- The expiration date is calculated from the date the product was frozen.
The statement "Product was frozen 72 hours after slaughter" must be
placed in the "Remarks" section of FSIS Form 9060-5.
- The use of the term "Keep Refrigerated" is not acceptable on labels for
frozen product.
- The shelf life determination for a product must start from production
date.
- Metric net weight
- Product identification
- If a Certificate of Islamic Slaughter is required, a statement that the
animals have been slaughtered according to Islamic principles must be on
the label.
- The following methods of labeling are alternatives for adding production and
expiration dates:
- Stickers, if used, must not obliterate label terminology and must be self
destructive on removal. Stick-on labels covering required labeling
features are not permitted. No sticker carrying the production and/or
expiration date is allowed on any product.
- Inserts must be accompanied by production and expiration dates. Inserts
must be made of approved materials.
- For prepackaged processed meat and poultry products, the production
(packaging or freezing) and expiration dates and the net weights of frozen
products are required on the label.
Documentation Requirements
- Obtain FSIS Form 9060-5. Correct production and expiration dates should be
verified by inspection personnel prior to certification. All FSIS Form 9060-5
certificates must be dated and bear the signature and title of an FSIS
veterinarian.
- Islamic Slaughter Certification - A certification of Islamic (Halal)
slaughter is not mandatory. However, exporters should be aware that such
product would have limited distribution. U.S. exporters should contact the
importer in Bahrain to determine whether a Certificate of Islamic Slaughter
is required on a subject shipment. If required, the exporter must obtain a
Certificate of Islamic Slaughter from an Islamic center or Islamic
organization. A Certificate of Islamic Slaughter is a certificate issued by a
member of a Moslem organization recognized by the importing country to
provide this service; the certificate states that animals were slaughtered
according to Moslem religious requirements. This certificate must be endorsed
by a Bahrain Consul and must accompany all shipments. Certification can be
arranged through one of the following members:
Arabian-American Chambers of Commerce
- National U.S. - Arab Chamber of Commerce
1100 New York Ave NW, E. Tower, Suite 550
Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 289-5920
FAX (202) 289-5938
- Mid-America - Arab Chamber of Commerce
208 S. Lasalle St., Suite 706
Chicago, Illinois 60604
(312) 782-0320
FAX (312) 782-7379
- New York - Arab Chamber of Commerce
420 Lexington Ave., Suite 2739
New York, NY 10170
(212) 986-8024
(212) 986-0216
- Houston - Arab Chamber of Commerce
1330 Post Oak Blvd.,
Suite 1600
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 963-4620
(713) 963-4609
- For fresh/frozen products bearing Halal labeling, the product must be
accompanied by a Certificate of Islamic Slaughter or be accompanied by a
written assurance from the exporter that an appropriate certificate will be
supplied before the product reaches its destination.
- For processed products, the product must be accompanied by a Certificate of
Islamic Slaughter for the animals slaughtered to produce the raw materials
used, or the product must be accompanied by a written assurance from the
exporter that an appropriate certificate will be supplied before the product
reaches its destination.
Handling/Storage Requirements
Bahrain requires that instructions for consumers concerning storage, preparation and other
special handling requirements accompany all shipments.
Other Requirements
- Expiration period for fresh/frozen meat products -The period from
slaughtering or freezing until arrival in Bahrain must not be more than 4
months. Product shall be maintained frozen at a temperature not higher than
-18° C. with an expiration date of not longer
than12 months for beef and not longer than 9 months for minced meat and
mutton.
- Expiration period for fresh/frozen poultry products - The period elapsed from
slaughtering or freezing until arrival in Bahrain shall not be more than 3
months for frozen turkey, duck, goose and chicken. Product shall be
maintained frozen at a temperature not higher than -18°
C. with an expiration date not longer than 12 months.
- The requirements specified herein are to be used as guidelines only. It is
the responsibility of the exporter to contact the importer to determine which
requirements must be fulfilled for a particular shipment.
BA-3 - (Feb 24, 2004)
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