Gulf region rapid alert system for food to be introduced
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Rapid Alert System for Food (GRASF), which is being modelled around an existing system in Saudi Arabia, will allow countries in the region to transmit information regarding food and food contact material safety in a more efficient and rapid way.
The system was announced by the Saudi Arabian Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) at the Dubai International Food Safety Conference.
The GCC incorporates the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait.
“The function of the GCC rapid alert system for food (GRASF) is simply to facilitate communication regarding existing direct or indirect risk to consumer’s health from food or food contact material,” said the GRASF website.
“This information has to be submitted through the system to allow to the central point to transmit the information needed immediately to other members of the network (GCC national contact points).”
