The Saudi Ministry of Commerce ordered importers of processed tomato products to re-ship their stock back to their countries of origin and requested that importers refrain from importing such products in the future.
The ministry reported that its laboratories confirmed that the imported sauce products contained cancerous substances known as Mcpd-3, reported Al-Watan . In addition, the ministry demanded all importers of Soya sauce from Asia, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Singapore, undergo thorough laboratory tests before they are made available for purchase.
The Saudi market for tomato concentrate and tomato-based sauces is estimated at an annual 22,000 metric tons. About 10,000 tons of the market consists of tomato paste, and another 7,000-10,000 tons of ketchup. About 40 percent of Saudi tomato product imports arrive pre-packaged, and the other 60 percent goes for local manufacturing and re-packing
American exporters have garnered a significant share of this market, and Saudis tend to prefer US tomato products over other foreign brands. The US is a leading supplier of ketchup and flavored tomato sauces to the Saudi retail market, according to the Agricultural Trade Office at the American Embassy in Riyadh. — (menareport.com)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
