Ministry of Health Approves New Regulations on Radioactive Isotope Limits in Food, Drinking Water, and Feed
Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi issued a decision approving the regulations on the limits of radioactive isotope concentrations in food, drinking water, and animal feed, including a ban on the circulation of foods that exceed the approved radiation limits, and establishing supervisory controls for handling non-compliant materials, thereby ensuring the protection of public health and food safety.
The provisions of the decision, published in the Official Gazette “Kuwait Al-Yawm” under No. 333 of 2026, are as follows:
Article One: The circulation of food materials whose radioactive isotope concentration exceeds the limits specified for each food category in the two tables attached to this decision, measured in becquerels per kilogram (Bq/kg), is prohibited.
1. Naturally occurring radioactive isotope concentrations in foods are exempt from the limits stipulated in this Article.
2. If food contains more than one radioactive isotope within the same group listed in the two tables, the sum of the radioactive activity concentrations of those isotopes shall be calculated, and the total must not exceed the limit set for the group.
3. The limits contained in the two tables apply to food in its form prepared for human consumption, and do not apply to dried or concentrated foods, which are subject to an exceptional intervention level of 0.3 millisieverts per year.
Article Two: The total concentration of radioactive activity of alpha- and beta-emitting radioactive isotopes in drinking water shall not exceed the following limits:
- The limit for the concentration of radioactive activity of alpha-emitting radioactive isotopes: 0.5 Bq/L.
- The limit for the concentration of radioactive activity of beta-emitting radioactive isotopes: 1.0 Bq/L.
The radioactive isotope K-40 is exempt from the limits for the concentration of radioactive activity of beta-emitting radioactive isotopes.
Article Three: The sum of the radioactive activity concentrations of non-natural radioactive isotopes in animal feed shall not exceed 300 becquerels per kilogram (Bq/kg).
Article Four: In the event that radioactive isotope concentrations in food materials exceed the limits stipulated in Article One of this decision, the Radiation Protection Administration shall notify the competent authorities, including the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition and the General Customs Administration, through official approved channels, to take the necessary measures within their respective jurisdictions, including the seizure of non-compliant materials, as follows:
1. Locally produced or domestically circulated food materials: The Radiation Protection Administration shall notify the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition of the test results to take the necessary measures to prevent their circulation, in accordance with its jurisdiction.
2. Imported food materials: The Radiation Protection Administration shall notify the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition or the General Customs Administration, depending on jurisdiction, of the test results to take the necessary measures to compel the importer to re-export or destroy the goods in accordance with established procedures, at the importer’s expense.
Article Five: This decision shall be notified to those required to implement it and shall take effect from the date of its issuance. Decision No. 194 of 2011 and any decision conflicting with the provisions of this decision are hereby repealed. This decision shall be published in the Official Gazette.
