This document summarizes the results of a market study reviewing packaging and labeling regulations for various markets and certification standards, and benchmarking the label contents of different seafood products. Key findings include: labels are not always consistently displaying mandatory information like net weight, ingredients, production/expiry dates and lot numbers; certifications logos are sometimes incorrectly used on product packs; and some labels are missing important details like country of origin or allergen warnings. Overall the review found inconsistencies between products and opportunities to improve compliance with various mandatory regulatory and certification requirements.

1. Market Study
for
Date: 04-04-17
Packaging and Labeling Review
Regulatory Affairs & Certifications

2. Color Coding
Mandatory Requirement
Optional / Voluntary / Claim
Against requirement (Standard,
Certification body, Legal)
Not Applicable

3. Review Coverage:
• KSA Regulations
• EU Export Regulations
• USFDA
• SGS, BRC Regulations – Logo’s Usage

4. Label Content - Benchmarking
# Label Content - ID TYPE
1 Name of the product with treatment (fresh/frozen/chilled/raw/cooked) Mandatory
2 Netweight Mandatory
3 Gross weight (Applicable for Exports) Optional
4 Name & Address of the Manufacturer & Processor Mandatory
5 Country of Origin Mandatory
6 Scientific Name (LatinName) Optional
7 Production Method (sea caught/fresh water/aquaculture) Optional
8 Type of packing Optional
9 Size grade of the product (for untreated) Mandatory
10 Net Weight with % of glaze if treated Optional
11 Ingredients/ProcessingAids Mandatory
12 AllergenLabeling Mandatory
13 Use Instruction Mandatory
14 Nutritional Labeling (format & font as per standard) Mandatory
15 Production Date Mandatory
Labeling Information to be used on product packaging, Reviewed as per the GSO/SASO, EU & USFDA

5. Label Content - Benchmarking
# Label Content - ID TYPE
16 Best Before Date (for fresh) / Expiry Date (Frozen) / Use by Date Mandatory
17 Lot/Batch Number (traceability code) Mandatory
18 Address – Importer/Seller NA
19 Language(Arabic) Mandatory
20 Storage & Distribution Condition Mandatory
21 Barcode Mandatory
22 Quality Management Logo /Phrases Mandatory
23 Food safety management logo / phrases Optional
24 Claims "AntibioticFree" Optional
25 EU Health Mark Mandatory for Products
exported to EU
Specific Labeling for IVP
26 Storage & Distribution Condition Mandatory
27 Labeling on primary IVPpacking Mandatory
28 Labeling on secondary IVPpacking Mandatory

6. Marinated Shrimps
2
1
1
8
14

7. Marinated Shrimps
14
11
1
13
Shrimp Species
not identified

8. Marinated Shrimps
21
23
1
23 23
22
23: Must use full ISO22000:2005,
not acceptable ISO22000 only.
22: Not allowed to use
Quality Management System
23: must not use BRC logo

9. Marinated Shrimps
4
1
?
“Made by” wording may mislead the origin of the product / manufacturer & processer shall be specified

10. Marinated Shrimps
15
20
1 year shelf life
1
16 17

11. Breaded Fish Nuggets 2
1
8
7
2

12. Breaded Fish Nuggets
14
11
2
20
13
4
13

13. Breaded Fish Nuggets 2

14. Breaded Fish Nuggets
15
2
16
1 Year
17

15. Breaded Fish Nuggets
20
21
2

16. Breaded Fish Fillets
1
2
3

17. Breaded Fish Fillets
4
3

18. Breaded Fish Fillets
14
13
11
2
21
3
Dietary Fiber
details not
available

19. Breaded Fish Fillets
15
20
3
17
16
1 Year

20. Breaded Fish Fillets 3

21. Breaded Fish Fillets
4
3

22. Breaded Calamari Rings
1
2
4
1
5

23. Breaded Calamari Rings 4
13
14
11
20
13
4

24. Breaded Calamari Rings
15
4
16
17 Production Batch / Lot number not
Mentioned
17
2 Years

25. Breaded Calamari Rings
20
21
4

26. Breaded Calamari Rings 4

27. Breaded Calamari Rings
23
4
22
23
23: Must use full ISO22000:2005,
not acceptable ISO22000 only

28. Conclusion of Market Review
22: Not allowed to use
Quality Management System
23: must not use BRC logo
23: Must use full
ISO22000:2005, not
acceptable ISO22000 only
17 Production Batch / Lot
number not Mentioned
(M = Mandatory)
All products are value added products; some products use 1
year shelf life & some 2 years shelf life – no consistency.
Certification Logos (ISO 22000, BRC) are used, it must not be
used on product packs as per the requirements. (M)
Some of the packers didn’t specify the country of Origin. (M)
Some of the packers didn’t specify the lot # / Batch #. (M)
Some of the packers didn’t mention “Allergen warning” on
Label. (M) (E.g. Shrimp / Fish)
Some of the packers didn’t mention “Size grade of the product
(for untreated)” (M)

29. • Thank you