Doha: The Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology (QS) hosted the 36th meeting of the Gulf Technical Committee for Food and Agricultural Standards in collaboration with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Standardization Organization as part of the 11th Gulf Food Week activities. The meeting was chaired by Director of the Standards and Metrology Department at QS, Eng. Jabr Mohamed Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, and attended by representatives from member states, the GCC Standardization Organization, and supporting members. During the meeting, the agenda was discussed and approved. A representative of the GCC Standardization Organization reviewed the decisions and recommendations related to the committee from the 41st meeting of the General Standards Committee, the 57th meeting of the Technical Council of the GCC Standardization Organization, and the seventh meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Standardization Affairs. The meeting discussed key topics, including updating the Gulf technical regulation o n the expiration periods of food products - Part 1 - mandatory expiration periods GSO 150 -PART 1. Emphasis was placed on enhancing joint Gulf cooperation, addressing and reducing intra-Gulf trade barriers, and the appropriate mechanisms to handle them. The importance of shelf life in the development of the food industry, enhancing food security, reducing food waste, and keeping up with modern advancements in food product manufacturing were also highlighted. The committee recommended holding another meeting among member states to finalize the regulation's provisions and submit the final draft, taking into account national differences, due to the project's significance and the need for its prompt completion as per the general standards committee's recommendation to be approved by the technical council. Additionally, the committee's plans for 2024 and previous plans were presented. The 2024 plan includes 69 projects, which were discussed, and comments and views from member states were considered. Suitable rec ommendations for each project were made. The previous plans were also reviewed, and the committee recommended expediting the completion of the remaining projects, taking into account the comments and views provided by member states and supporting members. The committee aims to submit more than 45 standard projects for Gulf approval to be presented at the next General Standards Committee meeting. Furthermore, the committee discussed topics referred by the GCC Standardization Organization and those proposed by member states and supporting members, to make recommendations that serve the development of Gulf standards and technical regulations. Source: Qatar News Agency