Health Minister approves regulations on concentration limits of radioactive isotopes in food, drinking water, and animal feed - Sarmad

(KUNA) – Kuwait’s Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi, issued a ministerial decision today, Monday, approving a regulation that sets maximum limits for the concentration of radioactive isotopes in food, drinking water, and animal feed, thereby strengthening oversight of these products and safeguarding consumer health.

In a press release, the Ministry of Health stated that the regulation prohibits the circulation of food items in which the concentrations of radioactive isotopes exceed the limits specified according to the type of isotope and the food category.

It clarified that the levels are measured in becquerels per kilogram and explained how to calculate radioactive activity when more than one isotope from the same group is present. The regulation excludes dried or concentrated foods from these limits, as they are subject to an exceptional intervention level of 3.0 millisieverts per year.

Regarding drinking water, the decision stipulated maximum limits for radioactive activity of alpha-emitting isotopes at 0.5 becquerels per liter and beta-emitting isotopes at 1 becquerel per liter, with the exception of the radioactive isotope K-40 from the beta limits. It also set the maximum total radioactive activity of non-natural isotopes in animal feed at 300 becquerels per kilogram.

The ministry noted that if the prescribed limits in food products are exceeded, the Radiation Protection Administration will notify the relevant authorities to take the necessary measures, which include inspecting locally produced or domestically circulated foods and taking appropriate action regarding their circulation.

With regard to imported foods, it clarified that procedures are carried out in coordination with the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition or the General Customs Administration to take appropriate measures in accordance with established regulations.