MoPH has devised a comprehensive action plan for monitoring and surveillance of food categories

Over the course of the next five years, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has developed a thorough action plan for surveillance and monitoring efforts aimed at different pollutants in all food categories. This program is in line with the goals of the Global Strategy for Food Safety 2022–2030 of the World Health Organization, which seeks to lessen the burden of foodborne illnesses.

The plan's implementation got underway early 2024. The monitoring team from the Ministry's Food Safety Department examined 400,000 test results and data from more than 30,000 samples that were gathered by regulatory bodies in 2023–2024. Prioritizing surveillance and monitoring programs for possible food pollutants in Qatar is the goal of this investigation.

Activities related to food risk monitoring and surveillance are carried out using a risk analysis technique in accordance with the best international standards. This method guarantees that decisions and risk management are supported by scientific data obtained from risk analysis and monitoring operations.

The first line of defense against hazards associated to food is provided by monitoring and surveillance systems, which are also an efficient means of detecting dangers early on. This makes it possible to respond quickly and manage food accidents effectively, which helps to lower the risk of contracting foodborne illnesses.

The list of preventative measures for foodborne zoonotic diseases (including avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy) is also updated on a regular basis as part of the food risk monitoring and surveillance operations. The Ministry of Public Health's Food Safety Department and the Ministry of Municipality's Animal Wealth Department work together to oversee these updates. The epidemiological status and the World Organization for Animal Health's (WOAH) guidelines serve as the basis for updates.