The Federal Law No. 10 of 2015 on Food Safety was approved in January 2016. The main purpose of this law was to protect public health, ensure food quality, regulate the food trading activities and protect consumers from unsafe or misleading food products.

Scope of Application of the law

The law applies to:

  1. Food establishments
  2. Imported food consignments
  3. Transit food shipments passing through the UAE
  4. All stages of the food chain

Role of the Ministry and Competent Authorities

The ministry and competent authorities are responsible for the following:

  1. Supervising food safety procedures
  2. Conducting inspections
  3. Coordinating food safety measures
  4. Developing food safety policies and strategies
  5. Organising import, export, and re-export activities
  6. Regulating food advertisements
  7. Raising consumer awareness
  8. Managing food-related crises and risks

Food Safety Systems Established Under the Law

  1. Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) – This is a system that alerts the direct or indirect risk to consumer health. This helps the authorities to take quick steps.
  2. Food Tracking, Withdrawal, and Recall Systems – This allows the tracing of unsafe food products and helps remove harmful food from the market.
  3. Food Crisis and Accident Management System – It manages food contamination incidents and emergencies.
  4. Food Safety Monitoring and Inspection System – It continuously monitors food products and establishments.

Health and Precautionary Measures

  1. The food safety decisions must rely on scientific evidence, risk analysis, transparency and objectivity.
  2. International food safety standards may be used where scientific evidence is insufficient.
  3. Authorities can take precautionary measures against food products that may endanger public health.

Licensing and Registration Requirements

Food businesses cannot operate without prior approval from competent authorities. The competent authorities are local authorities specialised in food safety in each state. These apply to :

  1. Commercial activities
  2. Industrial activities
  3. Professional food-related activities

Under Ministerial Decree No. 239 of 2018 all food products must be registered in the electronic ZAD system which is an integrated smart platform for food product data and registration.

Import Regulations

  1. If a food is being imported for the first time it needs ministries approval.
  2. The imported food must include the required certificates and supporting documents, and a border inspection is necessary.
  3. The UAE also regulates imported food for non-trading purposes where personal food import is allowed with restrictions. The labels must be clear, and it should contain complete documentation.

Obligations of Food Establishments

  1. Implement food safety systems
  2. Ensure food is safe for consumption
  3. Maintain records and compliance documents
  4. Train employees
  5. Ensure workers are medically fit
  6. Notify authorities about dangerous food
  7. Track and recall unsafe food products

Penalties Under the Law

  1. Trading in Harmful or Adulterated Food – Imprisonment for at least 3 months and a fine between AED 100,000 and AED 2 million.
  2. Trading Pork or Alcohol Products Without Licence – Imprisonment for at least 1 month and a fine between AED 50,000 and AED 500,000.
  3. False Descriptions and Misleading Labelling – A Fine between AED 10,000 and AED 100,000.
  4. Disposal of Retained Food or Feed – Imprisonment between 3 months and 2 years and a fine between AED 100,000 and AED 300,000.
  5. Violations of Technical Regulations – Fine between AED 10,000 and AED 100,000.
  6. Attempt to Commit an Offence – Attempted offences are punished the same as completed offences.
  7. Other Violations – Fine of at least AED 10,000.
  8. Repeat Violations – If there are repeated violations then the penalties are doubled.

Conclusion

Federal Law No. 10 of 2015 established a comprehensive food safety framework in the UAE. The law regulates all stages of the food chain and imposes strict obligations on food establishments. Through inspections, registration systems, import controls, and strict penalties, the UAE aims to maintain high food safety standards and protect public health.

We at Ayesha Aldhaheri Advocates & Legal Consultants assist businesses and food establishments with regulatory compliance, licensing, food product registration, import regulations, consumer protection matters, and legal advisory services relating to UAE food safety laws and regulations.