National Action Plan for control and prevention of Non communicable diseases (2019-2030)
The mission is to reduce the burden of morbidity, mortality and disability due to Non-communicable diseases through an effective multi-sectorial
collaboration at the national level, to reach the highest attainable standards of health and productivity in all age group category, in order
to achieve wellbeing, social and economic development and quality of life.
The main objective of the plan is to achieve a 25% relative reduction in risk of premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory diseases among adults (age 30-70 years) by 2025. This is inspired by SDG 3.4
| Categories: | Evidence of NCD strategy |
| Categories (partial): | Evidence of Nutritional or Health Strategy/ Guidelines/Policy/Action plan |
| Year(s): | 2019-2030 |
| Target age group: | Adults and children |
| Organisation: | Ministry of Health |
| Linked document: | Download linked document |
Mandatory measures to reduce sodium in in baked goods: Resolution No. (28) of 2018
Resolution No. (28) of 2018 mandated a limit on the proportion of table salt allowed in popular bakery products. Salt reduction in Arabic breads: a 20% annual reduction of salt level in traditional Arab breads from their current levels for five years until reaching the required percentage of 0.5% salt on a dry flour weight basis. Reduction in the amount of added salt in baked products during three years starting in 2018 and reaching a percentage of 0.5% salt.
Marketing and Promotion of Breast-milk Substitutes
In 2018, Bahrain strengthened its measures to regulate procedures and control on the use, marketing and promotion of breast milk substitutes in line with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.
| Categories: | Evidence of Marketing Guidelines/Policy |
| Year(s): | 2018 (ongoing) |
| Target age group: | Children |
National strategy for the diet and physical activity
National strategy for the diet and physical activity
| Categories: | Evidence of Nutritional or Health Strategy/ Guidelines/Policy/Action plan
Evidence of Physical Activity Guidelines/Policy |
| Year(s): | 2018 (ongoing) |
| Target age group: | Adults and children |
| Organisation: | Ministry of Health |
| Linked document: | Download linked document |
Bahrain excise tax on soft and energy drinks
Excisable goods Excise tax rate
Soft drinks 50%
Energy drinks 100%
Article 1 of the Implementation Regulations defines the excisable goods as:
Soft drinks: Any aerated beverage except unflavored aerated water. Soft drinks include any concentrates, powder, gel, or extracts intended to be made into an aerated beverage.
Energy drinks: Any beverages marketed or sold as an energy drink that may contain stimulant substances that provide mental and physical stimulation, which includes without limitation caffeine, taurine, ginseng and guarana. This also includes any substance that has an identical or similar effect as the aforementioned substances.
Link to news article included
NCD Country Profiles 2018 (Obesity Targets)
The profiles also provide data on the key metabolic risk factors, namely raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose and obesity and National Targets on Obesity (as of 2017)
| Categories: | Evidence of Obesity Target |
| Year(s): | 2017 (ongoing) |
| Target age group: | Adults and children |
| Organisation: | World Health Organisation |
| References: | Noncommunicable diseases country profiles 2018. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. |
Mandatory standard for food in school: 2016/2017 Food Canteen List
The Ministry of Health of Bahrain has a list of permitted, prohibited and conditionally allowed food for public elementary and secondary schools. The standards apply to all foods and beverages being sold in school shops/stores and foods and beverages available at school events. Criteria to determine which foods are prohibited, limited or encouraged are based on nutrient content.
According to the 2016–17 Food Canteen List, only unsweetened 100% fruit juice, water, milk and milk drinks are permitted; fruit drinks, soft drinks and energy drinks are prohibited. Fresh fruits and vegetables are on the list of permitted foods. Conditionally allowed foods must comply with certain criteria, such as not using trans-fats, using low fat cheese instead of cream cheese for sandwiches and limiting portion size. Prohibited foods include processed meat, potato chips, mayonnaise, puff pastries, and confectionery.
Standard relating to trans-fatty acid elimination
In 2015, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) approved TFA limits of 2% of total fat in vegetable oils and soft spreadable margarines, and 5% of
total fat in other foods. In 2016, the Bahrain government approved the implementation of the regulation. The standard specifies a maximum level of 2% in vegetable oils and soft spreadable margarines and 5% in all other foods, including ingredients sold to restaurants (bakery products, fast food, restaurant frying oil, biscuits and cakes, and salty snacks).
| Categories: | Evidence of Nutritional or Health Strategy/ Guidelines/Policy/Action plan |
| Year(s): | 2016 (ongoing) |
| Target age group: | Adults and children |
| Organisation: | Government |
| Linked document: | Download linked document |
| References: | . Countdown to 2023: WHO report on global trans fat elimination 2021. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. |
National Strategy for Control and Prevention of Non - communicable Diseases in Kingdom of Bahrain 2014 – 2025
National Strategy for Control and Prevention of Non - communicable Diseases in Kingdom of Bahrain 2014 – 2025
| Categories: | Evidence of NCD strategy |
| Year(s): | 2014-2025 |
| Target age group: | Adults and children |
| Organisation: | Ministry of Health |
| Linked document: | Download linked document |
Gulf Technical Regulation: Labeling of prepackaged food stuffs
Gulf Cooperation Council countries namely adopted the standards GSO (09/2013) Amd 2016 and GSO (150-
2/2013) for labeling of pre-packaged foods and shelf life. According to this GCC-wide standard, prepackaged food product labels should be in Arabic or include an Arabic language translation of the label. Producers and retailers are also mandated to provide a list of the nutrient content of pre-packaged food products, even in the absence of a nutrition or health claim.
| Categories: | Labelling Regulation/Guidelines |
| Year(s): | 2013 (ongoing) |
| Target age group: | Adults and children |
| Organisation: | Gulf Cooperation Council |
| Find out more: | www.gso.org.sa |
| Linked document: | Download linked document |
Bahrain's Health Agenda: health improvement strategy
In order to strengthen the prevention and control of NCDs, the Ministry has developed a national policy framework of laws, directives and regulations. These are designed to protect public health through measures such as restrictions on smoking in public and other designated areas, ensuring food safety and the labelling of food and drinks so that purchasers are aware of the content of what they are buying. Other measures will include fiscal policies that encourage the consumption of healthy goods over unhealthy ones. To ensure a comprehensive approach to disease prevention and control, the Ministry will focus on taking consultative measures to encourage participation and endorsement by representatives of key sectors in the policy making process.
| Categories: | Evidence of NCD strategy |
| Year(s): | 2012-2014 |
| Target age group: | Adults and children |
| Organisation: | Ministry of Health |
| Find out more: | extranet.who.int |
| Linked document: | Download linked document |
| References: | Anon (n.d.) Policy - Bahrain’s Health Agenda. Health Improvement Strategy | Global database on the Implementation of Nutrition Action (GINA). [Online]. extranet.who.int. Available from: https://extranet.who.int/nutrition/gina/en/node/17830 [Accessed: 7 July 2020q].
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Clinical Guidelines on Evaluation and
Management of
Paediatric Overweight and Obesity
Clinical Guidelines on Evaluation and
Management of
Paediatric Overweight and Obesity
| Categories: | Evidence of Management/treatment guidelines |
| Year(s): | 2012 (ongoing) |
| Target age group: | Children |
| Organisation: | Nutrition section - public health |
| Linked document: | Download linked document |
Nutrition Clinics - Management and Prevention of Obesity
The nutrition clinic project aims to provide high standards of obesity management to all adults living with overweight and obesity in the Kingdom of Bahrain in the primary care set-up and to ensure that patients who suffer from weight related problems will receive early, appropriate and long-term management of obesity and its associated morbidities.
| Categories (partial): | Evidence of Management/treatment guidelines
Evidence of National Obesity Strategy/Policy or Action plan |
| Year(s): | 2012 (ongoing) |
| Target age group: | Adults and children |
| Organisation: | Ministry of Health, Directorate of Public Health Nutrition Section |
| Find out more: | www.moh.gov.bh |
| Linked document: | Download linked document |
| References: | Gharib, N., Mariam, M., Amer, A. & Al-Salehi, S. (2012) Nutrition Clinics Managment & Prevention of Obesity Together for Better Life Ministry of Health Directorate of Public Health Nutrition Section. [Online]. Available from: http://www.moh.gov.bh/Content/Files/Publications/X_217201413620.pdf [Accessed: 7 July 2020]. |
Guidelines on fast food menu labelling
There are voluntary menu labelling recommendations for fast food chain restaurants.
Health Bus Bahrain
The main aim of the project in Bahrain is to enable young people and children to practise physical activity. The project focuses solely on physical activity promotion and is targeted at children and young people, particularly those from low socioeconomic groups.
Responsible Food and Beverage Marketing to Children Pledge
The Responsible Food and Beverage Marketing to Children Pledge, initially adopted in the GCC in 2010, is a voluntary commitment by the signatory companies to conduct responsible food and beverage marketing to children. The pledge informs and benchmarks how food and beverage products are marketed in a responsible way to children under the age of 12 in the region. In 2016 the pledge was enhanced by applying a set of nutrition criteria to define ‘better for you options’ . The pledge was endorsed by the Advertising Business Group in 2018.
Strategy to combat Obesity 2010-2015
A strategy providing useful guidelines for each Arab country, allowing them to prepare their own strategy/plan for prevention and control of obesity. The strategy includes 9 target areas: child-care centers for preschool children, schools, primary health care, secondary care, food companies, food preparation institutes, media, public benefit organizations, and the workplace.
| Categories: | Evidence of Community Interventions/Campaign
Non-national obesity strategies |
| Year(s): | 2010-2015 |
| Target age group: | Adults and children |
| Organisation: | Arab Task force for Obesity and Physical Activity |
| Find out more: | www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
| Linked document: | Download linked document |
| References: | Musaiger et al 2011. Strategy to combat obesity and to promote physical activity in Arab countries. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy. 4. pp. 89–97. |
GNPR 2016-17 (q7) Breastfeeeding promotion and/or counselling
WHO Global Nutrition Policy Review 2016-2017 reported the evidence of breastfeeding promotion and/or counselling (q7)
| Categories: | Evidence of Breastfeeding promotion or related activity |
| Target age group: | Adults |
| Organisation: | Ministry of Health (information provided by the GINA progam) |
| Find out more: | extranet.who.int |
| References: | Information provided with kind permission of WHO Global database on the Implementation of Nutrition Action (GINA): https://extranet.who.int/nutrition/gina/en |
Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes: National Implementation of the International Code Status Report 2016 (Promotion of Breastfeeding)
The 2016 report provides information on the status of implementing the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent
relevant World Health Assembly resolutions (“the Code”) in and by countries. The report also identifies in which countries they actively promote the benefits of breastfeeding.
| Categories: | Evidence of Breastfeeding promotion or related activity |
| Target age group: | Adults |
| Organisation: | WHO UNICEF IBFAN |
| References: | WHO. UNICEF. IBFAN. Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes: National Implementation of the International Code. Status Report 2016. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2016 |
School Nutrition Programme
Continuous training are provided to decision-makers to promote
healthy school nutrition, and educational activities on nutrition are regularly organized for school
children in all public schools.
| Categories: | Evidence of Nutritional or Health Strategy/ Guidelines/Policy/Action plan
Evidence of Physical Activity Guidelines/Policy
Evidence of Community Interventions/Campaign |
| Target age group: | Adults and children |
| Organisation: | FAO |
| Find out more: | www.fao.org |
| Linked document: | Download linked document |
| References: | "Anon (n.d.) FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS NUTRITION COUNTRY PROFILE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN Bahrain Nutrition Profile -Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division, FAO, 2007 2. [Online]. Available from: http://www.fao.org/3/aq036e/aq036e.pdf [Accessed: 7 July 2020].
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No actions could be found for the above criteria.
