UAE, Dubai - the leading regional manufacturer of confectionary products in the Middle East sponsors for the fifth year in a row The Dubai International Food Safety Conference (DIFSC) commencing on Feb 22nd till Feb 24th.  The three day being held at the World Trade Centre will host prominent speakers from around the world to share their expertise amongst food and safety professionals. 

Mars GCC commitment to DIFSC will also be reinforced through Mars GCC active participation in the various sessions of the conference.   Ashraf Shehata, Head of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs for Africa, India and the Middle East region will be giving a presentation titled “Food Regulations in the Middle East: A Food Industry Perspective”.  He will be providing a comprehensive review that sheds the light on current regulatory practices and the steps taken by the governments and industry. In the past few years the UAE and other GCC countries have witnessed a high level of activity in harmonization and in some instances have involved industry in helping to set the standards.

Speaking also from Mars GCC will be Javier Gil-Lostes, Ingredient Safety Scientist - Mars Inc. who will be speaking about “Chemical Hazards in Food - Dioxins and Pesticides”.
 
Mr. Shehata comments: “Mars globally abide by five principles, Quality being the first followed by Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, and Freedom. The three pillars of Quality at Mars are providing the consumer consistently with quality that matches their expectations, safe for consumption, and legal for sale.  We at Mars GCC believe that food manufacturers should be engaging with legislators from across the region throughout the process of updating regulations in order to allow for knowledge sharing and mutual transparency. 

Khalid Sharif Al Awadhi, Conference Chairman and Director of Food Control Department at Dubai Municipality said: “We at Dubai Municipality are extremely appreciative for Mars GCC’s continuous commitment and dedication to the Dubai International Food Safety

Conference.  Mars GCC involvement and the participation by their local and international food experts will add value to the conference agenda and for the delegates who are keen to hear and learn from the industry experts”.

About Mars GCC:
Mars Incorporated is a family owned company that produces some of the world’s leading snack, pet care and food products. Founded in 1911, the company operates in over 67 countries and has over 65,000 associates worldwide with global net sales at approximately US$ 28 billion annually. The company offers some of the world’s most trusted and recognizable brands such as M&M'S®, TWIX®, MARS, and SNICKERS® in snack, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR® and SHEBA® in pet care, UNCLE BEN'S®®, Dolmio and Abu Siouf Rice in food, and Wrigley Spearmint®, Extra® and Doublemint® in gum products.

Mars GCC is the Mars Incorporated unit responsible for the sales and marketing of Mars Inc.'s brands across all the GCC countries with sales to North Africa and the Levant. Established in Dubai in 1993, the local factory manufactures a complete range of GALAXY® chocolate for the region in a state-of-the-art chocolate moulding plant.

Driven by five principles Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency & Freedom, Mars is strongly committed to the community in which it operates, creating partnerships with local authorities and organisations, its employees, suppliers, and customers.