Al-Bassat imposes strict conditions on the sale of dairy and cheese alternatives

Minister of Economy Amer Al-Bassat issued a new circular specifying the conditions to be observed regarding the display and marketing of food preparations that are alternatives to dairy products, in order to protect consumers and prevent any misleading, based on Consumer Protection Law No. 659/2005 and its amendments, and on the decision of the Minister of Agriculture regarding the regulation of the packaging, filling, and display of milk and its derivatives. The circular aims to regulate the display and sale of these products, which are similar in shape and characteristics to milk products and their derivatives but different in ingredients, ensuring clarity of information for the consumer and preventing confusion with traditional dairy products.

The circular obligated points of sale to the following:

- Ensure that these products conform to approved legal specifications, particularly regarding names and label information.

- Display them completely separately from dairy and cheese products, with a clear sign bearing the phrase: "Food preparations alternative to dairy products"

- Prohibit the use of any names, images, or phrases that suggest they are dairy products.

- Ban their promotion through special offers aimed at boosting sales in a way that may mislead the consumer.

- Apply these provisions to advertisements, electronic platforms, delivery services, and digital applications

The circular also obligated food establishments that use these preparations in their products, such as manakish bakeries, pastry shops, and restaurants, to clearly disclose them within the list of ingredients.

The circular granted commercial establishments a one-month grace period to rectify their status, stressing that "the Consumer Protection Directorate will intensify field monitoring and take legal action against violators, including issuing seizure reports and referring files to the competent judiciary urgently and withdrawing violating products from markets when necessary. Accordingly, coordination and cooperation will be made with the Ministry of Industry to provide us with complete and accurate data regarding the entities importing the materials used in the manufacture of these preparations, especially hydrogenated oils, along with a statement of the imported quantities and their uses in factories, which contributes to tracking their path, verifying their methods of use, and tightening control over them."

The Ministry of Economy indicated that "this measure comes within the framework of enhancing transparency in markets, protecting consumers, and ensuring their right to obtain clear and accurate information about the food products on display."