MENA

Countries in the Middle East & North Africa are moving away from a reliance on traditional industries and are formulating new strategies to develop international trade. Although there is a continuing high demand for quality imports to satisfy consumer demand and needs, new barriers to trade are evolving.

Global concerns about product safety, security, health, nutrition and the environment have prompted more and more governments around the world to put in place regulatory barriers to mitigate risks to people and the environment. Governments in the MENA region are imposing regulations to ensure that imported products are safe, promote good health, meet required standards and are good for the environment. Although there are several regional coordination agreements in place, regulations and requirements can vary appreciably from country to country.

Aspiring exporters to countries in the MENA region should take account of regulations applying to both them and their products, before entering the market, or risk costly and time-consuming problems.