2005
Provision of safe and healthy food for all communities of the UAE is a priority of the Government which publishes the statutes concerned and establishes standards institutions. The food control system and the laboratories are responsible for setting codes, standards and procedures and executing inspection on food throughout the food chain.
In the domain of standards, the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology is the responsible agency through national technical committees with members of all agencies related to both the public and private sector. The Authority coordinates with the standards institution of the GCC for standards harmonization through the GCC.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is responsible for legislation and control of animal production. It supervises the import, handling and use of pesticides and has specialized pesticides laboratories and has recently established a new laboratory for pesticide residues in food.
Municipalities, through their health department and control food and laboratory departments and administrations, are responsible for executing the work and procedures for enforcing standards and food control systems on processed domestic and imported food products according to the statutes in place.
There are six food laboratories related to municipalities in the UAE. Three of these laboratories have been accredited according to ISO 17025 and equipped with high tech analytical equipment and biological techniques.
The National Food Safety Committee which is formulated within the General Secretariat of the UAE Municipalities has representatives from all concerned governmental agencies, including the Customs Authority. This Committee is responsible for supervising the enforcement of food safety systems and coordination between member agencies. additionally, it puts forward draft policies and legislations concerning updating systems and food safety procedures.
Codex Alimentarius standards, codes and guidelines are the key reference to ensure that they are either adopted or considered when formulating national food safety standards and legislation. Currently, the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology is the national focal point for Codex and is formulating the national Codex committee.
A new draft food law is currently being prepared. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is the SPS focal point, whereas the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology is the TBT focal point. In 2004, a new national system was put in place whereby the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology is charged with conducting laboratories accreditation and providing conformity certification.
Information last updated - January 2007