Economy:

• The economy of Kuwait is expected to improve slightly in 2020, recording a modest increase in line with an increase in the OPEC production cap. An improvement in the oil industry is also feeding into the non-oil sector.
• The real value of private consumption witnessed an increase of 5.2% in 2019, with a growth of 5.2% expected in 2020. The low level of unemployment and a delay in the introduction of the VAT are expected to support consumer spending.
• Real GDP growth was recorded at 1.1% in 2019, with a gain of 2.0% expected in 2020. Growth of real GDP is expected to edge upward, reaching 2.6% in 2021 and reaching about 2.9% per year by 2027.
   

 Population demographics:

• The population of Kuwait has been increasing at a steady pace, reaching 4.4 million in 2019. This indicator is expected to increase to 5.1 million by 2030.
• Fertility has witnessed a decline for several decades. In 2019, fertility recorded 2.1 births per female – equivalent to the replacement level (the fertility rate where the population replaces itself from one generation to the next). One factor offsetting this slow down is a substantial increase in the number of women of childbearing age (15-49 years).
• The median age in 2019 was recorded at 36.8 years, higher than the regional average. This indicator is expected to drop to 35.9 years by 2030.
   

Income & expenditure:

• The savings ratio in Kuwait was recorded at 17.1% of disposable income in 2018. This ratio is not expected to change in 2020.
• Consumer expenditure per capita in 2019 was recorded at US$11,455, with an increase of 4.7% expected in real terms in 2020. Miscellaneous goods and services are expected to register the highest consumer expenditure for the period 2020-2030.
• Real disposable income per capita was recorded at US$18,259 in 2019, with the indicator expected to increase by 4.8% in 2020. For the period 2020-2030, total disposable income is expected to increase by a cumulative value of 29.8% in real terms, averaging an annual rate of 2.6%.

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Authorized Government Agency(s):

Kuwait is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that includes Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. Gulf Standards Organization (GSO) is responsible for developing food and non food standards in the GCC. Once a new standard is approved by the GSO food standards committee, each member country officially adopts the standard, thus making it a national standard as well as a GSO standard. 

The Department of Standards and Metrology, Public Authority for Industry (PAI), in cooperation with the Kuwait Municipality (KUM), the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAFR), the Consumer Protection of the Ministry of Commerce, Customs, Chamber of Commerce and the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) constitute the “National Food Safety Committee” which is responsible for establishing local food safety regulations. 

Regulatory enforcement is divided between the KUM, MOPH and PAAFR. 

The Imported Food Department within KUM has responsibility for the initial inspection of imported food products, including verification of compliance with label requirements and collection of samples for laboratory analysis. 

Agency(s) Contact Information:

GCC Standardization Organization (GSO)
Riyadh - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
AlGadeer - Olaya Street
P.O.Box 85245 Riyadh 11691
Phone: (+96611) 2746655
Fax: (+96611) 2105391
Email: csc@gso.org.sa
Website

Public Authority for Industry (PAI)
PAI Reception
Phone: (+965) 25302222
Fax: (+965) 25302190
Email: indust@pai.gov.kw
Website

Kuwait Municipality
Website

Name(s) of Regulation and/or Standard:

GSO 2374:2014 Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods

Regulation and/or Standard Scope:

The standard applies to unprocessed plants and plant products, livestock and livestock products, and processed agricultural crop and livestock products intended for human consumption. A product will be regarded as bearing indications referring to organic production methods where, in the labelling or claims, including advertising material or commercial documents, the product, or its ingredients, is described by the terms “organic”, “biodynamic”, “biological”, “ecological”, or words of similar intent including diminutives which, in the country where the product is placed on the market, suggests to the purchaser that the product or its ingredients were obtained according to organic production methods.

All food products must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the appropriate government agency in the country of origin, attesting to the product's fitness for human consumption. Meat and poultry products must be Halal slaughtered. Halal slaughter certificates accompanying meat and poultry shipments are required to be notarized by the Kuwaiti Embassy in the country of origin. If not available, notarization from any of GCC or other Arab countries will suffice. Animal fat should be sourced only from Halal slaughtered animals. The importation of alcoholic beverages and pork, and food products containing alcohol or pork, is prohibited.

GCC Guide for Control on Imported Foods is useful for all food imports.

USDA GAIN Report Exporter Guide Annual Report for the United Arab Emirates (2015)

USDA GAIN Report United Arab Emirates Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards - Narrative (2014)

USDA GAIN Report Kuwait Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards - Certification (2013)

USDA GAIN Report Kuwait Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards - Narrative (2012)