DOHA: The Ministry of Environment has imposed new regulations for the import and sale of alcohol-based perfumes like cologne to prevent misuse and potential health hazards.
A certificate from an authorised laboratory has been made mandatory for import of such products to ensure that they comply with Qatari standards and specifications. This rule will come into force from April 1 this year.
There have been reports of widespread misuse of some cologne products in Qatar as an intoxicant due to their high alcohol content.
Studies have shown that some ethanol (alcohol) — based cosmetic products like cologne can cause serious health hazards if misused, the Ministry said yesterday. “In the interest of public health, the Laboratory and Standardisation Department at the Ministry has announced some procedures to regulate the import of these products to meet Qatari specifications No 1079 related to ethanol-based cosmetic products. Import of such products without certificate from an authorised laboratory has been banned,” said a statement issued by the Ministry. In keeping with Qatari specifications, the ethanol content in cologne and similar products should not be more than 90 percent and the permitted methanol (another derivative of alcohol) content is not more than 0.05 per cent.The ingredients should include one or more substances that change the natural specifications of alcoholic content and make the products unfit for drinking.
