Health Minister Approves Regulations on Radionuclide Concentration Limits in Food, Drinking Water, and Feed
Approval of regulations setting maximum limits for radionuclides in food, drinking water, and feed.
Translated by Qiyas from السياسة — Original source
- Ban on trading products exceeding prescribed limits and measures to inspect local and imported food
Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi issued Ministerial Decision No. 333 of 2026, 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.
The regulation prohibits the trade of food items in which the concentrations of radioactive isotopes exceed the specified limits, depending on the type of isotope and the food category, with measurements expressed in becquerels per kilogram.
It also established a mechanism for calculating radioactivity when multiple isotopes from the same group are present, and exempted dried or concentrated foods from these limits, subjecting them instead to an exceptional intervention level of 0.3 millisieverts per year.
Regarding drinking water, the decision set the maximum limit for the concentration of alpha-emitting radioactive isotopes at 0.5 becquerels per liter, and for beta-emitting isotopes at 1 becquerel per liter, with the radioactive isotope K-40 exempted from the beta particle limits.
The decision also set the maximum total radioactivity of non-natural isotopes in animal feed at 300 becquerels per kilogram.
The decision stipulates that if the prescribed limits in food products are exceeded, the Radiation Prevention Department shall notify the competent authorities to take necessary measures, including inspecting locally produced or domestically traded food and taking appropriate actions regarding their trade.
For imported food, the measures include coordination with the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition or the General Customs Administration to take appropriate actions in accordance with established procedures.
The decision takes effect from the date of its issuance, repeals Ministerial Decision No. 194 of 2011, and shall be published in the Official Gazette.
