"Education" Regulates School Canteens... From Permissibility to Prices

The Ministry of Education has approved the operational system for school canteens across all schools, excluding kindergartens. The system specifies six categories of food items permitted for supply, mandates the disposal of leftover pastries and sandwiches daily without retaining them for the following day, and requires verification of the freshness of food provided to students. Additionally, food items with less than half of their shelf life remaining are prohibited from being supplied.

Hamad Al-Hamad, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs, emphasized in a circular addressed to all relevant educational administrations the necessity of implementing the school canteen operational system for the new academic year and adhering to the food categories specified by the Food and Nutrition Authority in collaboration with approved companies.

Al-Hamad requested that each school principal designate a staff member to receive supplied materials for the canteen. Food supplies must be delivered to the school canteen exactly one hour before the break time, packed in plastic containers compliant with the Food and Nutrition Authority’s regulations.

Highlighting the Ministry’s commitment to safeguarding students’ health and safety, and raising compliance levels with health and regulatory requirements in school canteens, Al-Hamad stated: “In response to the recommendations concluded by the National Committee for Enhancing School Students’ Nutrition in its meeting No. (1/2025), regarding the necessity of unifying implementation and monitoring procedures, the Ministry reaffirms that all government and private schools must fully comply with the provisions of the School Canteens Regulations.”

School principals and investors (canteen contractors) are mandated to adhere to all provisions and requirements outlined in the regulations. Each party bears legal, administrative, and financial responsibilities for any violations within their respective scope.

Al-Hamad stressed the necessity of adhering to permitted food categories and prohibited the sale, display, or circulation of any non-approved food products. Canteens must meet health requirements by providing all necessary health standards and facilities, including safety equipment, general cleanliness, pest control, and proper food storage methods, as stipulated by the regulations.

He called for strict adherence to designated food sales areas within schools, noting that “selling or displaying any food items outside the school canteen, or introducing non-compliant food categories, is strictly prohibited.” He further emphasized the need to address infrastructure observations; if any issues related to canteen facilities arise, the school administration must contact the relevant authorities within the Ministry of Education to resolve them.

Other conditions were specified, including the requirement for the investor to hold a valid health license. No investor or contractor is permitted to operate within the school without obtaining a temporary health license and completing all approvals issued by the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition and relevant authorities. The use of non-approved sales methods is prohibited, and the use of food delivery applications, vending machines, or any other sales means within schools is not allowed.

Al-Hamad assigned school principals the responsibility of daily monitoring to ensure canteens comply with the regulations, and to report any violations or irregular practices to the relevant authorities immediately. He reiterated the prohibition on selling, displaying, distributing, or introducing any food items that contradict the School Canteens Regulations.

The Undersecretary confirmed that monitoring and inspection teams will conduct periodic and surprise inspections of canteens to verify compliance. Legal and administrative measures stipulated by law will be applied against anyone found violating the School Canteens Regulations.

The instructions mandate that the school principal and the cafeteria contractor provide all required data and civil identification cards, including the contractor’s contact information and the details of the person operating the cafeteria, as well as licenses, records, and health certificates specific to the school cafeteria, and present them upon request by inspection and monitoring teams from the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition.

2. In the event of a complaint or violation in the implementation of the decision’s provisions, the school principal shall be notified, and the school shall be given a sufficient deadline to rectify the violation. If the violation is repeated, a written report shall be submitted to the General Administration of Supporting Educational Services.

3. Contracts must be concluded with companies supplying pastries and sandwiches, with a copy of each contract provided to the General Administration of Supporting Educational Services.

4. All types of goods shall be sold at prices not exceeding the approved price list, except for companies that provide complete meals.

6. School principals and deputy principals are prohibited from requesting free meals from companies for any reason.

7. Schools operated by the Mills Company or the Cooperative Societies Union shall be considered as a single investor, and thus must obtain health licenses from the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition.