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Bahrain's Import Intricacies: A Challenge Worth Meeting
by Hovaguim Kizirian
Like its fellow members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC, which also includes Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia), Bahrain has a small but growing population, high per capita income and liberal trade policies. For U.S. food product exporters willing to master its import requirements, it presents a host of promising opportunities.
Prosperous nationals and Western expatriates consume most U.S. food products exported to the GCC. The Bahraini market accounts for just 7 percent of U.S. consumer-ready food exports to the GCC, and so has room to grow: its imports will likely climb about 5 percent a year in the next few years. Bahrain also has a large U.S. community.
About 60 percent of Bahrain's population is below the age of 20; these young people, with their high incomes and appetite for Western foods, are boosting demand for snacks, convenience foods and restaurant meals. In fact, Bahrain is home to a wide selection of U.S. fast-food franchises in the region. Bahrain is also visited by over 1.5 million people a year from neighboring Saudi Arabia who arrive over the 25-mile causeway linking the countries.
Smoothing the Path for Imports
Nearly all of Bahrain's food imports enter the country via the main port of Mina Sulman in the capital, Manama. The port boasts state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. Bahrain International Airport also receives a considerable quantity of food products, particularly fresh fruits, vegetables and chilled meats. Fresh products are usually cleared within 24 hours of arrival, and all other food products within as little as 2-3 days.
Bahraini officials are willing to work with companies to advance importation of food products. For example, officials widely announce changes in import regulations well before they go into effect (often 6 months or more).
Officials will also review food labels before the products are exported to Bahrain. To speed import clearance, U.S. exporters should submit their labels for pre-export approval, especially for new-to-market products and brands. Exporters should work closely with their local importers to obtain label approval and to ensure that their products meet all other import regulations.
Bahrain has no special packaging or container-size requirements for food products. It allows importation of irradiated food products without special labeling.
Knowing Food Product Requirements
To protect the safety of its food supply, Bahrain imposes lengthy shelf-life requirements on many products. The country also levies a 5-percent duty on most imported food products. The import duty on alcoholic beverages, however, is a hefty 125 percent; for cooking oils in retail-size containers, it's 20 percent.
Like other Islamic countries, Bahrain strictly regulates importation and sale of alcoholic beverages, pork and products containing alcohol or pork. Retail outlets may sell pork products only at clearly marked special counters. Just four companies are allowed to import and sell alcoholic beverages, which they may either retail in their own liquor stores or sell to other outlets.
Bahraini authorities visually inspect all imported fresh and processed food products and verify compliance with label regulations. Health officials also check food products already on the market by randomly selecting and testing samples to ensure that product ingredients match those listed on the label. In general, new-to-market products and those that failed prior inspections receive especially thorough examination.
Officially, there is a 0-percent tolerance for salmonella in poultry products. However, officials will often accept a shipment if the pathogen is detected in 20 percent or fewer of the samples.
Preparing Proper Paperwork
Bahrain requires the following documents for shipments of food imports: commercial invoice; packing list; bill of lading; health certificate from the country of origin; Islamic (halal) slaughter certificate for meat and meat products; and certificate of origin.
A U.S. certificate of origin must be notarized by a U.S./Arab chamber of commerce. It should also be notarized by the Bahrain Embassy, or one of its consulates, in the United States. If a Bahraini government mission is not located near the exporter, another Arab embassy or consulate may be used. If no Arab government mission is located near the exporter, a statement from the local U.S. chamber of commerce verifying this situation will suffice.
Proper Labels Enable
Bahraini labeling regulations require that food products list the following information on the original label or primary packaging: product and brand names; ingredients in order of proportion; additives; net contents in metric units (volume in case of liquids); production and expiration dates; manufacturer's name and address; country of origin; and any special storage, transportation or preparation instructions.
Label information must appear in Arabic. A bilingual label can be used, provided one of the languages is Arabic. An Arabic-language sticker may be substituted for an Arabic or bilingual label, provided the sticker is very hard to remove; includes all label information; and does not obscure or not contradict information on the original label.
Labels must clearly identify products containing pork or pork lard. Products found to contain traces of pork and not so labeled will be confiscated and may be banned from import for a specified period. All imported eggs must be individually stamped with their country of origin.
Production and expiration dates must be engraved, embossed, printed or stamped in indelible ink directly on the original label or primary packaging at the time of production.
Bahrain has no nutritional labeling requirements for most food products. However, labels on specialty food products, such as certain diet and health products, must contain detailed information about ingredients (vitamins, minerals, supplements, etc.); nutritive value per 100 grams; and instructions for use and storage. The U.S. nutritional panel can be used in these cases; Bahraini label requirements do not specify recommended daily allowances.
Bahrain follows CODEX Alimentarius regulations for food additives, as well as pesticide residues and other contaminates. The label must list the common name and index number of all food color additives in a product.
All in all, with its affluent population, cooperative authorities and clear import requirements, Bahrain holds considerable market potential for U.S. food exporters.
The author is an agricultural specialist in Dubai. For more information on the GCC market, contact FAS' Agricultural Trade Office, American Consulate General, Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. Phone: (011-971-4) 314-063; fax: (011-971-4) 314-998; e-mail: atodubai@emirates.net.ae
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