Chemical Regulation Management in the Middle East

On 16 April 2025, seven Gulf countries (United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen) submitted a joint addendum to the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding their draft Technical Regulation on maximum limits for pesticide residues in agricultural and food products.

Key Updates

• The update, coordinated by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) representing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), amends several Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) in the Gulf Standard Organization’s (GSO) 2019 draft standard.

• The revised limits apply to a wide range of commodities, including fruits (e.g. apples, mangoes, and citrus), vegetables (e.g. cucumbers, tomatoes, and leafy greens), grains (e.g. barley, sorghum, and wheat), and animal products (e.g. meat, milk, and eggs).

• Notable affected pesticide substances include chlorpyrifos, fenpyroximate, imazalil, and metalaxyl, among others.

• The changes aim to align with updated scientific assessments and regional safety priorities.

Stakeholder Engagement

• WTO members and stakeholders have 60 days until 15 June 2025, to submit comments.

• The updated draft is accessible here.

• Comments should be directed to the SFDA.

This move reflects the GCC's continued effort to harmonize food safety regulations with international standards, considering regional consumption patterns and risk assessments.

On 2 October 2024, the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a draft standard for the labelling of chemical substances. The second edition of the draft standard, DJS 990:2024, is expected to be adopted on 30 December 2024. 

Previously, Jordan had not formally adopted the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). However, this new standard mandates labelling in accordance with the provisions of the 8th revised edition of the UN GHS and the European CLP Regulation (EC 1272/2008). As a Middle Eastern country, this move marks a significant step towards Jordan’s full implementation of the GHS. 

Jordanian Technical Regulation 119/2022 

Earlier in 2022, the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) enacted Technical Regulation 119/2022, which outlines the specific requirements for labelling products that are sold or imported into Jordan.  

Scope of DJS 990:2024 

The DJS 990:2024 standard applies to all chemical substances and mixtures, excluding radioactive substances and mixtures, as well as veterinary medicinal products, food or feeding stuffs, cosmetic products, and medical devices. 

Insights from the New Labelling Standard 

As per the draft standard, DJS 990:2024, the label should be in both Arabic and English. The main elements that need to be included on the label are as listed below but more information can be found in standard here. 

• Country of origin and contents 

• Chemical identifier 

• Hazard and precautionary statements 

• Signal word 

• Hazard class and pictogram 

Label and Pictogram Dimensions 

The recommended dimensions for the label and pictogram, depending on the volume of the package are given in the table below. 

Comment Period and Enforcement Date 

The draft is currently open for comment. Stakeholders are invited to comment until 1 December 2024. The standard will come into force on 1 June 2025.