In these days, Jeddah municipality conducts an extensive research to identify the requirements for launching a microbiological and chemical laboratory for food products. "This SR 40 million project has been approved by His Excellency Secretary Eng. Adil Faqhih. It is going to be founded in the municipality" reported Dr. Mohammed Abduasalam, Secretary Advisor. He maintained that the lab will be concerned with examining and analyzing food produce such as beverages, sodas, legumes, meat, and fish, crustaceans, eggs and all kinds of canned foods.

Sponsored by Public Health Department in Dubai Municipality, the 2nd food safety conference entitled" Food Safety & Risk Analysis" takes place during 20-22/2/2007 at Abu Dhabi Conference and Exhibition Hall. Among the participants are speakers from different international organizations, like WHO, CODEX, and other academic and scientific food agencies, food processing companies as well as many other bodies concerned with food safety.

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The federal food safety inspection unit has approved an additional batch of additives, antimicrobals and agents for use as processing aids directly on meat and poultry products.

The updated list adds more substances that can be used during meat and poultry processing operations, giving more options in the food safety arsenal available to processors. The new approvals were made since the list was last updated on 10 May 2006.

Riyadh, an annual report from the Counter-Adulteration General Administration (CAGA) at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry revealed that a considerable amount of foods invalid for human consumption has been discarded. This came after a (CAGA) inspection tour which covered 100831 facilities specializing in manufacturing, processing and retailing foods and consumable goods.

Consequently, 197 cases were remitted to the Adulteration Settlement Committee to issue violation penalties while 92 cases were remitted to the Investigation and Allegation Committee.

Sponsored by Al-Madinah Municipality with Tibah University, the symposium entitled" Environmental Pollutants: Analysis & Control" takes place during 6-7/2/1428 (24-25/2/2007). The objective is to shed lights on the most important contemporary environmental topics; both theoretical and practical. It also incorporates identifying, evaluating and managing all kinds of pollutants as well as updated means of control.

The food sector along with other departments, representing the SFDA, participates in the 3rd Saudi Medical Exhibition as part of the Saudi scientific GCC conference for chronic diseases, marking the first meeting of the specialized medical societies in the region. The event is going to take place on (30/1/1428 AD-18/2/2007GH) at Al Dhahran International Exhibitions in Dammam City. The exhibition will be inaugurated by the Saudi health minister, His Excellency Dr. Hamad Al Mani.

  Dr. Ibrahim Al Mohizea, Vice President of Food Affairs at the SFDA, presented a scientific paper entitled "Updated Trends in Food Control & Strategies of Applications in the Kingdom" at the National Food Safety Symposium which was held in the Sultanate of Oman during the period (3-4, March.2007).

The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), the body responsible for drafting the UK non-broadcast advertising code, has announced new rules for food and soft drink product advertisements to children. The new rues, designed to help protect children's health, recognize and respond to public concern about rising levels of childhood obesity. The rules will come into force on 1 July 2007.

The Food Sector of the SFDA, attended the 39th meeting of the committee on" Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)". The meeting was held in William Robert Center in Geneva during the period 27-28 June, 2007.