An extended shelf-life can make Australian exports more competitive in the market by allowing products to remain on sale for longer

In February 2021, Saudi Arabia extended the shelf-life of chilled vacuum-packed beef and sheep-meat. An extended shelf-life can make Australian exports more competitive in market by allowing products to remain on sale for longer, leading to reduced wastage and higher returns for retailers. The shelf-life extensions for chilled vacuum-packed meat imported to Saudi Arabia are: Beef – increased to 120 days from 70 days* Sheep-meat – increased to 90 days from 70 days. As a regional leader on food standards, Saudi Arabia is supporting the development of standards implemented by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Gulf Standards Organisation (GSO) to extend the shelf-life for chilled vacuum-packed meat across the Gulf States. Other Gulf States such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar may consider changing their regulations to align with published GSO standards. Producers and exporters should contact their Middle Eastern importers or Austrade to explore ...