Quality inspection of imported and locally produced products, particularly food items, by the quality laboratory department of the Ministry of Commerce has increased during the holy month of Ramadan. An official of the quality laboratory department said it is during this period of the year when importation of goods increases as consumers' demands heighten. Local manufacturers are also producing new products and brands that require the Ministry of Commerce's laboratory approval before they are marketed. The official said all new imported products that had not been introduced to the local market are subjected to laboratory examination and test to ascertain their quality. Most of these products are food items like juices, water, confectionery items like sweets, cakes and pastries, dairies, meat and marine products. He said food sampling and testing are undertaken at the quality laboratory department to ensure that the food items are fit for human consumption. For example, meat and poultry are examined for Salmonellae. Many of these products are being imported from other Gulf countries. Some are also coming from Western and Mideastern countries. Saudi Arabia is the largest market for food and beverage in the Gulf region, accounting for 63 percent of the total $9 billion GCC food market. The Kingdom's per capita food consumption is projected to rise by 31.24 percent by 2014. Quality control of food items in the Kingdom is undertaken by different government bodies. City government and municipalities, for example, inspects processed food and their hygienic condition, including those in restaurants. Other agencies, like the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Commerce, control the importation of food products by ascertaining their quality. Subjecting products, whether imported or locally produced, to quality laboratory inspections and tests are ways of verifying their quality. __
