Bahrain

Agreement in force · Moderate coverage

Laws, documents and trade data — no screening rules yet

Screening rules for this market aren't available yet, so product screening skips it.

Market profile

Labeling regulation: GSO 9 (shared); GSO 150 (shared)
Additives and residue limits: GSO 2500; GSO 193 (shared)
Import requirements: Customs bill of entry; trade portal registration
National standards body: BSMD / MOIC (BS/GSO) — paywalled; GSO store

Certificates required

Health certificate (food export, fit for human consumption) — Mandatory (Applies to: All imported food)
Certificate of origin – non-preferential — Mandatory (Applies to: All imported food (legalised/attested))
GCC certificate of origin (national product) — Mandatory (Applies to: GCC-origin goods claiming duty-free treatment)
Veterinary health certificate (products of animal origin) — Mandatory (Applies to: Meat, poultry, dairy, eggs, seafood)
Phytosanitary certificate (IPPC / ePhyto) — Mandatory (Applies to: Fresh produce, grains, seeds, nuts, spices)
Halal slaughter certificate (per consignment) — Mandatory (Applies to: Meat and poultry)
GAC halal accreditation (GCC Accreditation Center) — Commonly requested (Applies to: Halal certificates for animal-derived ingredients/products)
Free sale certificate (certificate of free sale) — Commonly requested (Applies to: Packaged food product registration)
Certificate of analysis (CoA) — Commonly requested (Applies to: Registration dossiers; high-risk products (aflatoxin, pesticides))
ISO 22000 (food safety management system) — Commonly requested (Applies to: Manufacturers supplying retail/HoReCa)
HACCP certification — Commonly requested (Applies to: Manufacturers; municipality food-establishment approval)
Radiation / radioactivity certificate — Commonly requested (Applies to: Selected origins/products (confirm with authority))

Import and export

Documents to import

Packing list (items, sizes, weights) — Issued by: Exporter — Mandatory
Bill of lading / delivery order — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
Health certificate (GCC compliance) — Issued by: Competent authority of exporting country — Mandatory
Halal certificate — Issued by: Islamic body accredited in Bahrain — Conditional
Commercial registration (CR) — Issued by: Ministry of Industry and Commerce — Mandatory
Certificate to practise commercial activity under health surveillance — Issued by: MoH Public Health Directorate — Mandatory
Product pre-registration — Issued by: MoH Food Control — Conditional
Imported food inspection / release — Issued by: MoH Food Control Section — Mandatory
Customs declaration — Issued by: Bahrain Customs Affairs — Mandatory

Documents to export

No verified documents yet.

Government fees

Imported food inspection fee (1-1,000 kg) (Import) — 8 BHD
Imported food inspection fee (1,000-5,000 kg) (Import) — 9 BHD
Imported food inspection fee (>5,000 kg) (Import) — 10 BHD
Lab analysis / product registration (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
VAT/GST on imported food (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority

Customs single window: OFOQ, Sijilat

Customs duties are not included.

A fee without a confirmed amount is listed by name only.

Reference documents

USDA FSIS Export Library — Bahrain (2023) Open the source
GSO 2500 — Additives permitted for use in food stuffs (2022) Open the source
GSO 9:2022 — Labeling of prepackaged food stuffs (Gulf Technical Regulation) (2022) Open the source
GSO 193:2021 — Contaminants and toxins in food and feed (2021) Open the source
GSO 2055-1:2015 — Halal food Part 1: General requirements (2015) Open the source
GSO 150-1:2013 — Expiration dates for food products Part 1: mandatory (+Amd 2:2022); Part 2 voluntary (2013) Open the source
FAOLEX country profile — Bahrain (food legislation index) (current) Open the source
trade.gov Country Commercial Guide — Bahrain Import Requirements and Documentation (current) Open the source
trade.gov Country Commercial Guide — Bahrain Standards for Trade (current) Open the source

Guidance compiled from published sources — not legal clearance. Confirm the requirements with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.

Screening guidance based on published standards — not legal clearance. Requirements marked "needs verification" are directional hints; confirm with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.