Health Ministry Approves New Radiation Safety Standards for Food, Water, and Feed
Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi issued a decision adopting the regulations on the limits of radioactive isotope concentrations in food, drinking water, and animal feed, with the aim of strengthening regulatory controls related to radiation safety and protecting public health.
The Official Gazette, “Kuwait Al-Yawm,” published Decision No. 333 of 2026, which prohibits the circulation of food items whose radioactive isotope concentrations exceed the limits specified for each food category, according to the tables attached to the decision and measured in becquerels per kilogram.
The decision exempted naturally occurring radioactive isotope concentrations in food from these limits. It also mandated that the total radioactive activity of isotopes belonging to the same group be calculated when more than one radioactive isotope is present, provided that the total does not exceed the prescribed limit for that group.
The specified limits apply to food in its form prepared for human consumption, while dried or concentrated foods are subject to an exceptional intervention level of 0.3 millisieverts per year.
Regarding drinking water, the decision set the maximum limit for the total activity of alpha-emitting radioactive isotopes at 0.5 becquerels per liter, and for beta-emitting particles at 1.0 becquerels per liter, with the exception of the radioactive isotope K-40 from the concentration limits of beta-emitting radioactive isotopes.
The decision also stipulated that the total concentration of radioactive activity of non-natural radioactive isotopes in animal feed must not exceed 300 becquerels per kilogram.
The decision outlined the procedure for handling food items that exceed the approved radiation limits. The Radiation Prevention Department is responsible for notifying the competent authorities, primarily the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition and the General Customs Administration, of the test results to take necessary measures, including the seizure of non-compliant items.
For locally produced or circulated food items within the country, the Radiation Prevention Department notifies the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition of the test results to take necessary measures to prevent their circulation, within its jurisdiction.
As for imported food items, the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition or the General Customs Administration is notified, according to their respective jurisdictions, to take necessary measures to compel the importer to re-export or destroy the non-compliant items in accordance with established procedures, at the importer’s expense.
The new ministerial decision repealed Decision No. 194 of 2011, along with any other decisions conflicting with its provisions, and stipulated that it shall come into effect from the date of its issuance and publication in the Official Gazette.
