A food safety ratings system has been unveiled in Qatar to help ensure safe food for residents and prevent foodborne illness.
The Ministry of Public Health officially launched the Food Safety Rating Programme for Food Establishments earlier this week.
The initiative aims to enhance compliance with food safety rules at various food establishments in the country. The program enables consumers to assess the extent to which sites adhere to health regulations, based on the results of inspections.
Outlets are classified into six categories: “Urgent Improvement Necessary,” “Major Improvement Necessary,” “Improvement Necessary,” “Good,” “Very Good,” and “Excellent.”
Urgent improvement necessary means the establishment is not compliant with food safety standards and immediate corrective action is required due to a high level of risk. Excellent means the outlet is fully compliant with all standards.
Results are published on the “Watheq” electronic food safety system, allowing consumers to view them, while establishments can also display their score onsite.
A good rating can be achieved by following best practices for food preparation, cleaning and disinfection, building maintenance, food storage, and general hygiene. Companies must ensure that food handlers pass a food safety exam.
The program consists of three phases, with the first two already in place, covering hotels and restaurants in tourist areas and shopping malls. The third phase will include all other establishments that provide direct food services to consumers in Qatar, with implementation set to begin in the third quarter of this year. As of mid-February 2025, 1,284 food establishments have been rated under the program.
Food safety commitment
During the official launch, Wasan Abdulla Al Baker, director of the food safety department at the Ministry of Public Health, honored 51 establishments that had received “Excellent” and “Very Good” ratings and expressed her gratitude for their commitment to food safety.
“The official launch of the Food Safety Rating Programme for Food Establishments marks a significant step towards achieving the highest levels of compliance with global health and safety standards, contributing to enhanced food safety and public health protection in Qatar. We hope that this classification system will encourage food establishments to continuously improve their performance and adhere to food safety regulations,” she said.
The system is designed to promote transparency in the food safety sector by classifying outlets based on technical standards and requirements. The aim is to raise consumer awareness and strengthen confidence in the quality of food products by providing information on the level of compliance.
The program requires each registered food establishment to undergo at least three inspections, with additional visits conducted to ensure compliance. Establishments are usually inspected every two to six months. The system was developed using a risk-based inspection approach with help from international consultants.
If a food establishment disagrees with its rating, it can submit an appeal within 15 days of the inspection report being issued.
The Qatar News Agency also reported this week that politicians have approved a draft decision to establish the General Authority for Food Safety in Qatar.
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