Preparing for 2025: GCC's new food labelling requirements for dining establishments
Dining establishments in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are preparing for a variety of updated regulations that will come into force in 2025. Starting January 2025, establishments must display allergens and calorie information on digital menus; and from July 2025, it is expected they will need to display exercise time as well as indicate foods that are high in salt.
Allergen and calorie information
In recent years, the GCC has introduced new regulations requiring dining establishments to display allergen and calorie information on their menus. This initiative is part of a broader effort to combat the rise of non-communicable diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease. These regulations have been updated in Saudi Arabia and at the GCC level, coming into force in January 2025 and March 2025, respectively. The primary update to the standards includes provisions for digital menus, ensuring that allergen and calorie information is accessible in online and app-based ordering systems.
Raising awareness of exercise time
In addition, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has recently published a new regulation requiring dining establishments to display the time needed to burn the calories consumed from menu items. This information must be clearly indicated in minutes and/or hours, accompanied by a ‘walking’ icon. The aim is to educate people how their food choices impact their lifestyle. Currently published as a draft, this regulation is expected to come into force in July 2025.
Additional regulations focus on marketing and salt intake
SFDA is also preparing a new regulation that sets requirements for marketing and advertising high-nutritional-value packaged food products and balanced nutritional meals sold outside the home. The regulation prohibits describing or presenting food products in advertisements as being associated with good health practices, using terms such as ‘good,’ ‘healthy,’ or ‘fit’. Advertising and marketing food products or meals as intended for a specific diet or category will also be prohibited.
Another forthcoming regulation will require dining establishments to indicate foods high in salt (exceeding 5g) with a prominent saltshaker symbol. This is expected to come into force in July 2025. These measures underscore the responsibility of the dining establishment to raise awareness of the nutritional value of their products.
Further adoption
The rest of the GCC’s Member States are expected to follow Saudi Arabia’s steps.
Help with GCC regulations
Contact us to ensure your company is prepared for these upcoming regulations, thereby providing a safer and more transparent dining experience for your customers.
Our regulatory experts can provide in-depth support on regulations surrounding allergens, calorie information and health claims in the GCC or in other markets. Simply reach out to us at [email protected].
Leatherhead Food Research Members are kept up to date with changing regulations such as these through the weekly Global Legal Highlights newsletter. To learn more, get in touch with our membership team at [email protected].
