KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Khalifa Al-Ajeel met Thursday with Kuwait Flour Mills and Bakeries Company CEO Mutlaq Al-Zayed to explore ways of strengthening the company’s role in achieving food security and supporting national products. The meeting, held at the Public Authority for Industry headquarters, focused on removing barriers that could hinder the company’s performance and finding ways to enhance its production capabilities. “The government is keen to support strategic national industries, especially the food sector, as it is one of the fundamental pillars of food security in the country,” Al-Ajeel said after the meeting.

He emphasized the need to utilize available resources and streamline administrative and technical procedures to help Kuwait Flour Mills continue providing high-quality staple food products with reliable supply. Supporting local production, Al-Ajeel added, goes beyond boosting output. “It also includes creating a supportive legislative and regulatory environment, encouraging innovation and development, and expanding investment in the food industry in line with the country’s food security vision.”

Al-Zayed thanked the minister for the government’s ongoing support. “We appreciate the continuous backing and direct attention the Ministry of Commerce and Industry gives to Kuwait Flour Mills,” he said. He praised the ministry’s role in supporting national industries, particularly amid global and regional challenges related to supply chains and food security. Al-Zayed noted that the company is working to upgrade its production lines and improve operational efficiency to deliver high-quality products that meet local market needs and contribute to the state’s vision for sustainable local production. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Minister of Health Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi has welcomed a recent ruling by the Court of Cassation that upheld the ministry’s decisions to shut down and revoke the licenses of 60 pharmacies found in violation of pharmacy law. “These rulings are a victory for the law, a protection for society, and a safeguard for pharmaceutical security,” said Dr Al-Awadhi in a statement, which didn’t name the pharmacies in question.

He stressed that the ministry’s actions were based on legal violations where pharmacies were operated or invested in by individuals other than the licensed pharmacists — a clear breach of the executive regulations governing pharmacy operations. According to the minister, the pharmacy license is a personal right granted solely to licensed pharmacists and may not be transferred or exploited by third parties.

“We will not tolerate any violation that affects the integrity of the medical or pharmaceutical professions,” Dr Al-Awadhi said. “The ministry will continue to take all necessary legal and regulatory steps to ensure professional standards and protect public trust in health services.”

He expressed gratitude to Kuwait’s judiciary, the Fatwa and Legislation Department, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Kuwait Municipality, and the Public Authority for Manpower for their cooperation in enforcing the law. “This is a firm message to anyone who violates the laws regulating health professions,” the minister said. “We are committed to continuing our oversight and legislative responsibilities with the highest standards of transparency and public interest.” The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry are working closely to enforce pharmacy regulations, ensuring the licensing system is not abused and the pharmaceutical sector remains credible and secure, the health ministry said in a statement.

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) said on Thursday it has, for the first time, identified toxic microalgae species responsible for red tide events and mass fish deaths in Kuwaiti waters.

The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal Botanica Marina, settle a long-standing scientific debate by confirming the presence of three harmful species: Karenia papilionacea, Karenia selliformis, and Karlodinium ballantinum, lead author Dr. Manal Al-Kandari told state news agency KUNA.

Al-Kandari said the study conclusively confirmed the existence of K. selliformis, which caused a major fish kill in Kuwait in 1999, and K. papilionacea, both of which had been debated in earlier research. She noted that K. ballantinum was recorded for the first time not only in Kuwait but in the entire Arabian Gulf region.

Describing the discovery as a “strategic scientific achievement,” Al-Kandari said the findings will support the development of early warning systems to mitigate future outbreaks, safeguard marine biodiversity, and strengthen food security.

The study was conducted in collaboration with the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and led to the creation of a preserved reference collection of living microalgae strains—a resource she said will benefit future national and regional marine research.

Al-Kandari also acknowledged the continued support of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), calling for further investment in marine environmental studies.—KUNA