{"id":2645,"date":"2026-10-16T20:42:40","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T20:42:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/bahrain-proposes-revised-gulf-limits-on-veterinary-drug-traces-in-food\/"},"modified":"2026-10-16T20:42:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T20:42:42","slug":"bahrain-proposes-revised-gulf-limits-on-veterinary-drug-traces-in-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/bahrain-proposes-revised-gulf-limits-on-veterinary-drug-traces-in-food\/","title":{"rendered":"Bahrain Proposes Revised Gulf Limits on Veterinary Drug Traces in Food"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bahrain has established maximum residue limits for veterinary drugs in food to ensure food safety and protect consumer health.<\/p>\n

Bahrain and six Gulf partners revised draft limits for animal drug traces in meat, milk, fish and honey on Aug. 31, 2026.<\/p>\n

The revised text is a Gulf draft technical regulation called "Maximum Residues Limits (MRLs) of Veterinary Drugs In Food"1<\/a><\/sup>. It was sent to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on behalf of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Yemen1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

In short, food of animal origin shipped to Bahrain will have to stay under a fixed ceiling for each animal medicine. A shipment of chicken, beef, lamb, fish or honey with higher traces could fail food-safety checks once the rule is adopted.<\/p>\n

What is the Gulf veterinary drug rule?<\/h2>\n

A maximum residue limit (MRL) is the highest amount of a drug trace allowed to remain in a food. Farmers give animals medicines against worms, insects and parasites, and small amounts can stay in the meat, milk or honey. The draft sets the maximum permissible limits for residues of veterinary medicines<\/strong> in food products and food of animal origin1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

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The Gulf draft at a glance<\/h4>\n
\n \n \n
Point<\/th>What the draft says<\/th><\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n
Name<\/th>Maximum Residues Limits (MRLs) of Veterinary Drugs In Food<\/td><\/tr>\n
Draft reference<\/th>GSO 2481\/2024<\/td><\/tr>\n
Bahrain’s WTO reference<\/th>G\/SPS\/N\/BHR\/201\/Add.2<\/td><\/tr>\n
Goods covered<\/th>Food products and food of animal origin<\/td><\/tr>\n
Status<\/th>Revised draft, not yet adopted<\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The rule is a Gulf technical regulation, which means it is a binding product rule rather than a voluntary standard. The draft text carries the label GSO 2481\/2024<\/strong>, a reference that marks it as a Gulf standard (GSO)2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Bahrain filed the notice under its own WTO reference, G\/SPS\/N\/BHR\/201\/Add.21<\/a><\/sup>. The same text was filed by the six other states under their own numbers. This means the same limits are planned for all seven markets.<\/p>\n

Why did Bahrain notify the WTO again?<\/h2>\n

This is not a new rule from nothing. Bahrain’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce already lists a Gulf technical regulation with the same title, GSO 2481:2015, approved on 5 November 20153<\/a><\/sup>. Its standards store now marks that 2015 edition as "Historical"3<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

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How the Gulf rule got here<\/h4>\n
\n 5 Nov 2015<\/span>\n GSO 2481:2015 approved<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n 27 May 2019<\/span>\n First draft update notified<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n 31 Aug 2026<\/span>\n Revised draft notified<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n 30 Oct 2026<\/span>\n Comments close<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The Gulf states first notified a draft update to the WTO on 27 May 20194<\/a><\/sup>. A first addendum followed in August 2019, after the states reviewed comments from other WTO members4<\/a><\/sup>. The new filing is the second addendum.<\/p>\n

The Aug. 31 addendum is marked as a change to the content or scope<\/strong> of the earlier draft1<\/a><\/sup>. It is not marked as the adoption or entry into force of the rule1<\/a><\/sup>. So the limits are still a proposal, and other countries can comment before the Gulf states adopt them.<\/p>\n

Which foods and drugs does the draft cover?<\/h2>\n

The draft text lists each drug with its safe daily intake, the trace that laboratories measure, and the limits for each animal and body part2<\/a><\/sup>. The limits are given in micrograms per kilogram (\u03bcg\/kg), or millionths of a gram in each kilogram of food2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The pages attached to the notice name these drugs:<\/p>\n