Saudi Arabia sets new fruit and vegetable packaging rules
Key takeaways
- Saudi Arabia issues new fruit and vegetable packaging requirements for food safety and quality.
- The rules mandate recyclable, food-grade compliant packaging that withstands pressure, allows airflow, and includes detailed product labeling.
- The move follows broader F&B packaging developments in Saudi Arabia, including circular economy initiatives and industry partnerships.
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture has announced packaging regulations for fruits and vegetables. The requirements aim to ensure the quality and safety of food products during transport and distribution.
The regulations declare that each product must have all the correct details, such as name, net weight, packing date, country of origin, and supplier or producer details (agricultural registration number, name, and logo).
Regarding packaging design, the ministry has stipulated that it must be made from food-grade compliant materials. Furthermore, packaging must be recyclable, withstand high pressure, and allow an airflow.
Cardboard packaging must have a lid made from the same product as the rest of the solution. Once on pallets, cardboard packaging must also be wrapped to prevent contamination during storage and transport.
The regulations also mandate that the inner surfaces of cardboard packaging are waxed, coated, or saturated with moisture-resistant material, as long as it does not affect the product.
In other fruit and vegetable packaging developments, South Australia postponed its ban on non-compostable plastic fruit stickers after producers raised concerns about the cost of compostable alternatives.
Growing food industry
Recently, Saudi Arabia expanded its F&B packaging production in terms of security and sustainability.
In February, Ericsson and IoT Squared partnered to create the Ericsson Connected Recycling platform in Saudi Arabia. The platform aims to track waste flow in real-time, enhancing circularity and recyclability.
Additionally, in May, Sidel established packaging operations in Saudi Arabia. A memorandum of understanding assessed the viability of establishing local services and programs that align with the “growing needs” of Saudi Arabia’s F&B packaging industry.
