1 off 14

Food Safety Department

Food Trade Control Section

Food Import Requirements Guideline for Food Importer

2 off 14

Requirements are necessary before importing foodstuff:

1- Registration of the Food Establishment in Dubai Smart Government (Dubai ID).

2- Register the company in the DM Food Import and Re-export System (FIRS) for

obtaining import services and submit food import requests, as well as follow up on

everything related for consignments of imported food .

3- Registration of the food establishment in the Zad federal system to obtain

registration services of food products and consignment transfer services between

Emirates.

4- Assessment of label of importing food products to ensure compliance of approved

specifications in the country to avoid rejection and quick release.

5- Laboratory testing of food products at Dubai Central Laboratory of Dubai

Municipality before import process will facilitate the rapid release of food

shipments. In case of not providing test result, samples will be collected from the

consignment on arrival at Dubai ports and do not get final release until the lab

results.

3 off 14

How to register a company in the services of Dubai Municipality

The importing company must obtain a commercial license issued by a government

licensing authority in the United Arab Emirates and its commercial activity includes

trade in foodstuffs or general trading.

In order to get Dubai Municipality e-services and to avail Food Import and Re-Export

Services , company must register with Dubai Smart Government by following ;

1- The company's representatives must register in Dubai's ID

https://myid.dubai.gov.ae/Registration.aspx

2- After registration, the company representative must go to any Dubai ID booth / device

to verify registration, Fingerprint placement and UAE identity is also required. The Kiosk

/ Dubai Identity Devices can be found at https://myid.dubai.gov.ae/AboutMYID.aspx

3- Log in to Dubai Municipality website and sign in with your Dubai ID username and

password.

4 off 14

4- Once logged in, the following screen will appear.

Link an Account

In the case of pre-registered accounts with Dubai Municipality and is intended to be

associated with the Dubai ID.

Link a Company

In the case of companies registered in Dubai Economic Department, they are linked to

Dubai ID and Dubai Municipality services.

Create a company

In the case of companies that are not registered in Dubai Economic Department and are

intended to link with the Dubai ID and access to the services of the Dubai Municipality.

5 off 14

First: Link an Account

- If you already have an account with Dubai Municipality, click "Link an Account".

- The screen below will appear and the company representative must place the old

username and password, and then click.

6 off 14

- After linking, re- login, and click my companies.

- Click Food Safety to get for food safety services.

7 off 14

- Click any triangle sign to go to the FIRS services

Second: Link a Company

In the case of companies registered in Dubai Economic Department, they are linked to

Dubai ID and Dubai Municipality services.

- Log in to Dubai Municipality website www.dm.gov.ae using account with the Dubai

Smart Government.

-

-

8 off 14

- Press profile icon.

- Press link a company icon

- Fill the request Form, and attach Official letter from the company that you are

eligible to have authority over this company.

- Your request will reach to us for review, and you should receive notification with

either acceptance or rejection, with a reason in case or rejection.

- In case the company is accepted, you will find it under companies in your Profile.

- To activate food safety services، please email foodtradefollowup@dm.gov.ae or call 800900

9 off 14

Third: Create a company

In the case of companies that are not registered in Dubai Economic Department and are

intended to link with the Dubai ID and access to the services of the Dubai Municipality

Log in to Dubai Municipality website www.dm.gov.ae using account with the Dubai

Smart Government

- Click on register a Company as in the picture.

- Fill the request Form, and attach the License Copy, and Owner/Partner Emirates

ID.

- Your request will reach to us for review, and you should receive notification either

with acceptance or rejection.

- In case your Company accepted, you will get notification this company is register

in Dubai municipality, and is ready to be linked.

10 off 14

- After you receive acceptance notification, Click on Link a Company as in the

picture.

-To activate food safety services، please email foodtradefollowup@dm.gov.ae or call 800900

- The food establishment must deposit the required financial security deposit.

- Before applying for import request, make sure that the food products are registered

in the system.

11 off 14

Enter the barcode for the food item and then search. If the item is registered, there is no

need to register again, and if not, item registration request must be submitted through

Zad online system. https://zad.gov.ae

-

- To access the Zad system, use the same username and password as Dubai ID.

- To obtain the Zad services, press companies icon to submit an application and attach the

required documents and wait for the approval.

12 off 14

- The application will be reviewed and a notice of acceptance or rejection will be sent.

- Once application is accepted، all below zad services are provided

o Products: To know the list of registered food items.

o Add a food item: To apply food item registration request.

o NOC: To transfer consignment between Emirates.

o Halal: UAE approved lists of certified Halal bodies and slaughterhouses.

Required Documents:

Food exporters must provide all documents of exported food consignments issued from the

country of origin or country of export as follows:

Health certificates issued by the related authority or the officially recognized agency or

any other related body at the country of origin/ exporting country.

13 off 14

Packaging list / content list.

Halal certificate for meat, poultry & its products and for food containing ingredients

from animal source.

Any additional documents required by the Food Safety Department according to

international developments and local food notifications such as:

- The radioactivity free certificates from some countries.

- Heavy metals free certificates such as Malachite Green and Nitrofurans.

- Dioxin free certificate.

- Certificate confirming that fish are not fed on animal protein.

Supporting documents proving claims in the food label such as:

- Certificate proving the claim that the products are not genetically modified.

- Certificate proving the claim that the products are organic which is issued by the

organic bodies recognized by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and

Environment - https://www.moccae.gov.ae.

- Health or nutritional claims when needed (only accepted if certified by an

internationally recognized scientific body).

Fourth: Laboratory Testing.

It is advisable to bring samples of the food products before actual import and tested in Dubai

Central Laboratory of Dubai Municipality to ensure that the food products need to export are

compatible with UAE standards and specifications.

14 off 14

For further inquiries, please contact:

Call Center: 800900

E-mail

Food Control Section: Foodtrade@dm.gov.ae

With greetings from the Food Safety Department