Food Safety Department

What is the Food Safety Department?

The Food Safety Department is executive body to ensure food safety in Dubai

Managing food trade

Inspection services

Permits issuance

Studies and label compliance

Facilitate food trade

activities (imports and

exports) while ensure

highest levels of safetyConduct routine

inspections on all food

establishments to ensure

adherence to safety

guidelinesIssue food related permits

to ensure transparency

and accountability Conduct risk assessment

studies and monitor

compliance with local and

regional regulations

Average number of imported consignments per month

Air Ports Unit

12,000 Consignment

Sea Ports Unit

12,600 Consignment

Land Ports Unit

6,000 Consignment

Consignment Follow up & DIP Unit

3,000 Consignment

Food Import in Dubai

UAE trade license

Company registration

Register food items

Assess food labels

Prepare import documents / formalities

Shipment inspection

Shipment

action taken

Prior to importing any food products into Dubai, the following steps should be taken in the

correct order

1 2 3

4567

Inspection

at the port

of entry

Inspection

at company

warehouses Final

decision on

shipment

status

Food Inspection Pathway

All shipment details are recorded on the federal food system (ZAD) – making

food import a very easy process

Label Requirement

Product name

Ingredients

Barcode Number

Manufacturer name

Warning

(if any)

Net weight/volume

Country of origin

Storage conditions

Instructions for use

(if any)

Prod & Expiry dates

Brand name Names or E-No. of additives (if any)

Arabic LabelMandatory

How To Get Food Standards?

http://www.esma.gov.ae

Required documents

• Health Certificate from Authorized Government Entity

• Halal Certificate ( For the meat, poultry & its products)

• Packing list

• Other certificate for specific consignment:

• Pork- free diet certificate for Farmed Fish and Seafood's and its products

• Organic Certificate (If claimed)

• GMO free Certificate (If Claimed)

• Other Certificate as per the Circular

issuing Authority

Exporter

Logo and address

Quantity

Production Date

Certificate No

Date of Issue

Item Description

Health Statement

Importer

TitleWeight

Expiry Date

Storage Temp

Authorized Signature and stamp

Document issued by the authorized body from the country of origin to indicate the fitness for

human consumption.

Health Certificate

The original certificate must be submitted to the inspector at the entry port during the

inspection of the consignment

Health Certificate

Requirements

Certificate confirms that the product, meets Halal requirements in the Islamic Sharia, and

issued by Halal Certification bodies approved in UAE.

Halal Certificate

The original certificate must be submitted to the inspector at the entry port during the

inspection of the consignment

Halal Certificate

Requirements

Expiry Date

Brand Name

Production Date

Date of Slaughter

Name of the Meat Cutting

Establishment

Exporter Name

Importer Name

Port loading

Halal Attestations

Name of the certifier and

Signature:

Official Stamp

Halal certificate reference

number

Address of the Slaughterhouse

Name of Authorized Islamic

Association

Total weight and quantity

Health certificate number

Name of the Slaughterhouse

Meat Type

Issue date

Carcass (Whole/Cuts)

How to find halal Certification bodies approved lists in UAE.

Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology ) ESMA).http://www.esma.gov.ae

Emirates International Accreditation Center )EIAC)https://www.eiac.ae

Ministry of Climate Change and Environment:Countries allowed to export meat and poultry to UAE, and

slaughterhouses approved for hygiene only.

http://www.moccae.gov.ae/

Statistics – Food Imported from Japan into Dubai in the last 3

years

Total Imported Items Total Imported Containers

18,661

20,517 20,461

2017 2018 2019

2,729

1,8811,568

2017 2018 2019

Statistics – Food quantities imported from Japan in 2019 (ton)

Food-related Business Activities

Permits

Permanent

Business layouts

Small home enterprises

Temporary

Food kiosks

Events

Food trucks

Vending machines

- All these permits are issued

within one working day,

facilitating business

requirements for traders

- Permits issuance are all

done online through

“FoodWatch”

Food Safety Department

For inquires related to food imports:

foodtrade@dm.gov.ae

For inquires related to food permits:

foodpermits@dm.gov.ae