Sweetener Regulations That Include Stevia Now Finalized In Middle East Gulf Region

The Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) Standardization Organization (GSO), issued their final regulations for sweeteners in November 2015. These regulations include guidance on the use of steviol glycosides in several food categories such as; non-alcoholic drinks, breakfast cereals, bakery products, canned & bottled fruit, jams, jellies & marmalades, nectars and concentrates, confectionary and more. This is exciting news as it opens the opportunity for stevia and for companies to develop reduced calorie and reduced sugar foods that meet consumer needs and expectations in the region.

The GSO is responsible for developing food and non-food standards that apply to all the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries which include; the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Yemen.

For more information one can purchase and download the regulatory document from the GSO standards catalog here.