{"id":2679,"date":"2026-10-19T20:19:39","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T20:19:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/bahrain-notifies-gulf-draft-setting-size-and-label-rules-for-fresh\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T20:19:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T20:19:40","slug":"bahrain-notifies-gulf-draft-setting-size-and-label-rules-for-fresh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/bahrain-notifies-gulf-draft-setting-size-and-label-rules-for-fresh\/","title":{"rendered":"Bahrain Notifies Gulf Draft Setting Size and Label Rules for Fresh Strawberries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph hsn-lede\">Bahrain maintains comprehensive <strong>regulatory frameworks<\/strong> governing <strong>strawberry production, importation, and distribution<\/strong> to ensure <strong>product safety and quality control<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Oct. 13, 2026, Bahrain notified a draft Gulf rule setting quality, size and label standards for fresh strawberries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The notice to the World Trade Organization (WTO) lists Bahrain with the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Yemen<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\" id=\"hsn-cite-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. The draft comes from the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO), the standards body of the Gulf Cooperation Council states<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\" id=\"hsn-cite-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In short, fresh strawberries sold in Bahrain would need to be sound, clean and correctly sized. Each package would also need a label showing the class, the net weight and the country of origin.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the Gulf strawberry rule?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The draft is called GSO DS\/1988:2026, &quot;Strawberries&quot;<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. GSO Technical Committee No. 5 prepared it<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. This committee writes the Gulf standards for food and farm products.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cover page calls it a <strong>draft Gulf Technical Regulation<\/strong>, a rule that goods must meet before they can be sold<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. It says the text is open for comments and may still change. It cannot be used as a Gulf Technical Regulation until GSO approves it<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The inner pages carry the number GSO 1988\/2009. This shows the text builds on an earlier Gulf strawberry standard from 2009<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. Saudi Arabia prepared the draft, according to its foreword<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The WTO number for Bahrain&#8217;s notice is <strong>G\/TBT\/N\/BHR\/795<\/strong><sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. The same draft carries a separate number for each of the other six states, such as G\/TBT\/N\/SAU\/1456 for Saudi Arabia<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which strawberries does the draft cover?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rule covers strawberries of all varieties grown from the plant genus Fragaria L.<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. It applies only to <strong>strawberries supplied fresh to consumers<\/strong><sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Strawberries for industrial processing are left out<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. This means fruit sent to factories for jam, juice or frozen products falls outside the draft. Fresh fruit packed for shops and markets falls inside it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The draft also treats wood strawberries, a small wild type, a little differently. They may be sold without the green stalk attached, and they have no minimum size<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why are Gulf states setting the standard?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The foreword says GSO issues Gulf standards and technical rules through its specialist committees<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. The draft was based on Arab, international and foreign national standards<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its reference list names one main model: <strong>UNECE standard FFV-35<\/strong> for strawberries<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) writes this standard for trade in fresh fruit and vegetables.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many growers who already pack to the UNECE grades will find the Gulf classes familiar. The Gulf draft adds links to Gulf rules on pesticides, germs, packing and labels.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What must every strawberry shipment meet?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The draft sets basic requirements for all classes. The fruit must be<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Intact and sound<\/strong>, with any rotten or damaged fruit removed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Clean<\/strong>, with practically no visible foreign matter.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fresh in appearance but not washed.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Practically free from pests<\/strong> and from damage caused by pests.<\/li>\n<li><strong>With the green cap and stalk attached<\/strong>, except wood strawberries. The cap and any stalk must be fresh and green.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Free of abnormal outside moisture<\/strong>, and of any foreign smell or taste.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ripe enough<\/strong>, and in good enough condition to travel and arrive in good shape.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These basic tests apply alongside GSO 123, the Gulf general rule for fresh fruit and vegetables<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What limits apply to pesticides and germs?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The draft also links the fruit to Gulf safety limits. <strong>Pesticide residues<\/strong> must not exceed the limits in GSO 382, the Gulf rule on maximum pesticide residues in farm food<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Germ levels must stay within the limits of GSO 1016, the Gulf rule on microbe limits in food<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. Other harmful substances must stay within GSO 193, the Gulf rule on contaminants and toxins in food<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Growers and packers must also follow good hygiene practice. The draft points to the Gulf code of hygienic practice for fresh fruits and vegetables<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. In practice, a shipment that passes the quality checks could still be stopped if lab tests find residues above these limits.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How are strawberries graded and sized?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The draft sorts strawberries into three quality classes<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. It marks this section as optional, but the class must still appear on the label<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"hsn-fig hsn-fig--solid hsn-fig--v3\" data-at=\"how-are-strawberries-graded-and-sized\">\n  <div class=\"hsn-fig__table\">\n    <h4>Strawberry classes in the Gulf draft<\/h4>\n    <div class=\"pcrstb-wrap\"><table>\n      <thead>\n        <tr><th>Question<\/th><th>Extra class<\/th><th>Class I<\/th><th>Class II<\/th><\/tr>\n      <\/thead>\n      <tbody>\n        <tr><th>Quality<\/th><td>Superior<\/td><td>Good<\/td><td>Meets basic requirements<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><th>Largest white patch<\/th><td>Very slight surface defects only<\/td><td>One-tenth of surface<\/td><td>One-fifth of surface<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><th>Minimum size<\/th><td>25 mm<\/td><td>18 mm<\/td><td>18 mm<\/td><\/tr>\n      <\/tbody>\n    <\/table><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The three classes are<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Extra class<\/strong>: superior fruit, bright and free from soil. Only very slight surface defects are allowed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Class I<\/strong>: good fruit with slight defects in shape, slight pressure marks, and a small white patch. The patch may cover at most <strong>one-tenth of the fruit&#8217;s surface<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Class II<\/strong>: fruit that meets the basic requirements only. It may have shape defects, slight dry bruising and slight traces of soil. A white patch may cover up to one-fifth of the surface.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Size is measured as the widest diameter across the middle of the fruit<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. The minimum size is <strong>25 mm for Extra class<\/strong> and 18 mm for Classes I and II<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How much faulty fruit is allowed?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The draft allows a small share of fruit in each package to miss its class. This allowance is called a tolerance<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"hsn-fig hsn-fig--solid hsn-fig--v3 hsn-fig--side\" data-at=\"how-much-faulty-fruit-is-allowed\">\n    <div class=\"hsn-fig__cols\">\n    <h4>Share of fruit allowed to miss its class, %<\/h4>\n    <div class=\"hsn-fig__col\" data-series=\"1\">\n      <span class=\"hsn-fig__num\">10%<\/span>\n      <span class=\"hsn-fig__coltrack\"><span class=\"hsn-fig__colfill\" data-v=\"100\"><\/span><\/span>\n      <span class=\"hsn-fig__lab\">Class I<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"hsn-fig__col\" data-series=\"2\">\n      <span class=\"hsn-fig__num\">10%<\/span>\n      <span class=\"hsn-fig__coltrack\"><span class=\"hsn-fig__colfill\" data-v=\"100\"><\/span><\/span>\n      <span class=\"hsn-fig__lab\">Class II<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"hsn-fig__col\" data-series=\"3\">\n      <span class=\"hsn-fig__num\">5%<\/span>\n      <span class=\"hsn-fig__coltrack\"><span class=\"hsn-fig__colfill\" data-v=\"50\"><\/span><\/span>\n      <span class=\"hsn-fig__lab\">Extra class<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Extra class, up to <strong>5% by number or weight<\/strong> may fall short, as long as it meets Class I<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. Of that 5%, no more than 0.5% may be spoilt fruit<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Class I, up to 10% may fall short, as long as it meets Class II<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. In Class II, up to 10% may miss even the basic requirements, but rotten fruit is not allowed in this share<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. In both classes, no more than 2% may be spoilt fruit<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For size, all classes allow <strong>10% by number or weight<\/strong> of fruit below the minimum size<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What must the strawberry label show?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each package must carry a label with five items<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>The name of the produce.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>class<\/strong>, Extra, I or II.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>net weight<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>country of origin<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>The name and address of the packer or the sender.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure class=\"hsn-fig hsn-fig--solid hsn-fig--v3\" data-at=\"what-must-the-strawberry-label-show\">\n  <div class=\"hsn-fig__table\">\n    <h4>What each strawberry package must show<\/h4>\n    <div class=\"pcrstb-wrap\"><table>\n      <thead>\n        <tr><th>Label item<\/th><th>Requirement<\/th><\/tr>\n      <\/thead>\n      <tbody>\n        <tr><th>Name and class<\/th><td>Produce name and class: Extra, I or II<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><th>Net weight<\/th><td>Stated on each package<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><th>Country of origin<\/th><td>Stated on each package<\/td><\/tr>\n        <tr><th>Packer or sender<\/th><td>Name and address<\/td><\/tr>\n      <\/tbody>\n    <\/table><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These items come on top of the Gulf labelling rules GSO 9 for prepackaged food and GSO 2749 for prepackaged fruit and vegetables<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Packing must follow GSO 124 on fruit and vegetable boxes, GSO ISO 7558 on prepacking, and GSO 839 on food packages<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. Transport and storage must follow GSO 323 for chilled and frozen food<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How will inspectors check a shipment?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Samples must be taken under GSO 125, the Gulf method for sampling fresh fruit and vegetables<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. Tests are then carried out on a representative sample<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Net weight, foreign matter and faulty fruit are checked under GSO 244, the Gulf test method for fruit and vegetables<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. For exporters, this means each box is judged against its stated class. A box labelled Extra class with too many small or marked berries would fail.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who is affected and what happens next?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Growers and packers abroad who ship fresh strawberries to Bahrain are the main group affected. Importers in Bahrain would need to check that labels show the class and origin. Fruit sold for processing would not be touched.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The notice was dated Oct. 13, 2026<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. The draft does not yet give an adoption date. The GSO Board of Directors must still approve it at a meeting, and that date is left blank in the text<sup class=\"hsn-cite\"><a href=\"#hsn-ref-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>. Until then, the text may change after comments from WTO members.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key points on the Gulf strawberry standard<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The table sums up the draft as it stands.<\/p>\n<div class=\"hsn-table\">\n<div class=\"pcrstb-wrap\"><table>\n<thead><tr><th>Question<\/th><th>Answer<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr><td>What is it?<\/td><td>Draft Gulf rule on fresh strawberries<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Who issued it?<\/td><td>GCC Standardization Organization (GSO)<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Which states notified it?<\/td><td>Bahrain and six other Gulf states<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Bahrain&#8217;s WTO number<\/td><td>G\/TBT\/N\/BHR\/795<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Notice date<\/td><td>Oct. 13, 2026<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Goods covered<\/td><td>Fresh strawberries for consumers<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Goods left out<\/td><td>Strawberries for industrial processing<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Quality classes<\/td><td>Extra, Class I, Class II<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Minimum size<\/td><td>25 mm Extra, 18 mm Classes I and II<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Label must show<\/td><td>Name, class, net weight, origin, packer<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Next step<\/td><td>Approval by the GSO board<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Until the GSO board approves the draft, its details can still change. Once approved, every package of fresh strawberries entering Bahrain would need to meet the size limits and carry the five label items.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading hsn-refs-title\">Sources<\/h2>\n<ol class=\"hsn-refs\">\n<li id=\"hsn-ref-1\"><a class=\"hsn-refs__back\" href=\"#hsn-cite-1\" aria-label=\"Back to reference 1 in the text\">\u21a9<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.evs.ee\/en\/wtonotifications\/tbtnotifications\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">TBT notifications &#8211; EVS standard evs.ee | en<\/a> <span class=\"hsn-refs__url\">https:\/\/www.evs.ee\/en\/wtonotifications\/tbtnotifications<\/span><\/li>\n<li id=\"hsn-ref-2\"><a class=\"hsn-refs__back\" href=\"#hsn-cite-2\" aria-label=\"Back to reference 2 in the text\">\u21a9<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/members.wto.org\/crnattachments\/2026\/TBT\/SAU\/26_05363_00_e.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Microsoft Word &#8211; GSO-1988-2009-E<\/a> <span class=\"hsn-refs__url\">https:\/\/members.wto.org\/crnattachments\/2026\/TBT\/SAU\/26_05363_00_e.pdf<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bahrain maintains comprehensive regulatory frameworks governing strawberry production, importation, and distribution to ensure product safety and quality\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2677,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_regnews_id":"35826","_hsn_citations":"[{\"n\":1,\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.evs.ee\/en\/wtonotifications\/tbtnotifications\",\"label\":\"TBT notifications - EVS standard evs.ee | en\"},{\"n\":2,\"url\":\"https:\/\/members.wto.org\/crnattachments\/2026\/TBT\/SAU\/26_05363_00_e.pdf\",\"label\":\"Microsoft Word - GSO-1988-2009-E\"}]","_hsn_no_sources":"","_hsn_content_hash":"a66cbe87454f5234633d7ca31e895e3eb911356c:fbcfac2e0d9372bb881d0b1a89fd204ce9e57cca","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"strawberry","footnotes":""},"categories":[151,15],"tags":[96],"class_list":["post-2679","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east","category-standards-conformity","tag-bahrain"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2679","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2679"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2679\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2681,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2679\/revisions\/2681"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2677"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2679"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2679"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}