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Decisions regulating sale of energy drinks issued

KUWAIT, Oct 21 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's Ministry of Commerce and industry issued a decision on Sunday regulating the sale of energy beverages in the local market.
The decision includes banning the sale of these drinks to children under the age of 16, and comes to follow in the footsteps of the US Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organisation and standards applied in other states of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Private and public shop-owners - including cooperative societies - have been obliged to place banners in their shops, that clearly warn against the sale of the products to under 16-year-olds.
Companies that produce these beverages have been told to place warnings on their cans that the drinks could affect pregnant women, diabetes and high-blood pressure-affected individuals, those with caffeine allergies and children affected with behavioral disorders.
The decision also banned companies from placing misleading advertisements in order to encourage people to purchase their goods, like those claiming their drinks have medicinal benefits or increase concentration, among others.
Energy-drink producing companies will now be obliged to obtain a license from both the Kuwaiti Health Ministry and Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in order to sell their products or issue advertisements for them.
Shops that do not abide by the laws will be issued with an initial warning, followed by an enforced closure of their business for a period of no less than one week, if the offence is repeated and a license withdrawal, if the offence is repeated for a third time. (end) smr.sd KUNA 211827 Oct 12NNNN