Qatar Customs import and export policy
Summary:This article outlines Qatar's import and export policy, highlighting the stable product structure with a focus on oil, gas, mineral, and chemical products for exports, and imports primarily consisting of aircraft, vehicles, machinery, and steel products. It also covers inspection and quarantine requirements for commodities, especially regulations for food imports and specific demands for exporting meat products to Qatar. Additionally, the article addresses prohibited imports and exports, and special requirements for certain goods, including Halal certification and Conformity of Conformity (COC) for customs clearance.
Product Structure of Imports and Exports
Qatar's import and export product structure remains stable, with exports still dominated by oil
and gas sources, mineral products, and related chemical products. Major export commodities
include mineral fuels, mineral oils and their products (mainly liquefied natural gas, liquefied
petroleum gas, etc.), plastics and their products (mainly polyethylene products), fertilizers
(mineral nitrogen fertilizers and chemical nitrogen fertilizers), etc.
Major import commodities include aircraft and their parts, automobiles and their parts, other machinery and equipment, and steel products.
Inspection and Quarantine of Import and Export Commodities Food
The competent authority for the import of live animal products is the Live Poultry Control
Department of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment of Qatar. The competent authority for
the import of food is the Port Health and Food Control Bureau of the Ministry of Public Health
of Qatar. The specific norms are formulated by the Qatar Standards Bureau.
For meat and meat products exported to Qatar, halal food certification, certificate of origin and food hygiene certificate should be provided. Halal food certification is issued by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and then certified by the Qatari Embassy in China. Halal food should comply with China's food hygiene standards, and certificates of origin and food hygiene certificates should be issued. There are no special requirements for other items. After the products arrive in Qatar, the customs will conduct routine sampling inspections. The outer packaging of food should be translated into Arabic and indicate the product name, ingredients (by percentage), net weight, production date, shelf life (must indicate the expiration date, otherwise it will not be allowed to be imported), storage method and trademark origin, etc.
Trade Controls
Prohibited Imports and Exports:
Imports of alcoholic beverages and pork products are prohibited. Additionally, narcotics,
drugs, addictive foods (such as betel nuts), weapons, firearms, ammunition, and similar
items are also banned.
Exports of certain subsidized food products, antiques, and meat and meat products without Halal certification are prohibited. Qatar also prohibits the export of goods to Israel.
Special Requirements for Import and Export of Certain Goods:
Meat and meat products exported to Qatar require Halal certification, certificates of origin,
and food hygiene certificates. These certificates must first be certified by the China
Council for the Promotion of International Trade and then authenticated by the Embassy of
Qatar in China.
Some goods, such as automotive parts, tires, and certain electronic products, require a Conformity of Conformity (COC) certification for customs clearance in Qatar.
Other Commodities
Only a certificate of origin, product certificate of conformity and cargo packing list are required for declaration. However, a commercial inspection certificate must be provided for toy products. If not, the samples must be sent to the Qatar Standards Bureau for inspection and can only be released after they pass the inspection.