3.67.  Over the review period, the institutional national framework for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures remained broadly unchanged, but the authorities issued several by‑laws, ministerial decrees, and administrative measures to improve its implementation.[227]

3.68.  The WTO focal point on SPS issues is the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), renamed from the Ministry of Environment and Water to underline the Government's commitment to tackle climate change.[228] The Ministry is responsible for the regulation of SPS issues and delivers import permits for live animals and certain animal products, animal by‑products, veterinary products (medicine and vaccines) and animal feed, plants, plant products, plant propagation materials, growing media, and seeds

3.69.  The National Food Safety Committee under the MOCCAE implements Federal Law No. 10 of 2015 on Food Safety. The MOCCAE is tasked to unify and supervise the procedures on food safety applied by the emirate‑level authorities that are liable for the verification of safety along the food chain, including import, export, and re‑export of food and feed trading. Only the MOCCAE retains the power to ban the importation of products. Federal Law No. 10 of 2015 also applies in free zones

3.70.  While individual GCC members retain the authority to issue national food legislation, they aim to harmonize all regulatory requirements for imported foods and provide a coordinated and efficient border inspection and clearance system. Generally, UAE federal SPS regulations are based on GSO standards in addition to the related national standards developed by the MoIAT (formerly ESMA). GCC member States had developed a GCC Guide for Control on Imported Foods that was piloted in 2015‑16. However, its application was suspended in 2017 before entering fully into force due to concerns raised by WTO Members.[229] Currently, each country applies its own procedures, while trade among GCC members needs to take into consideration the implementation of regulations concerning veterinary and agricultural quarantine regulations and prohibited and restricted goods.[230]

3.71.  At the UAE level, a National Food Accreditation and Registration System (ZAD) was launched in 2018 per Ministerial Decree No. 239.[231] All food items, whether domestically produced, imported, or modified, must be registered in the electronic ZAD system before entering the UAE market.[232] There is no fee for registering on the platform. The objective of the ZAD platform[233] is to offer a unified and user‑friendly service to foreign and local food traders. Previously, traders had to separately register products in each Emirate they wanted to transport products to.[234]

3.72.  Each Emirate has its own agency responsible for applying rules adopted by the MOCCAE to enhance food safety, and animal and plant health. The MOCCAE and local authorities at the emirate level share the responsibility for the control and inspection of agricultural food safety, as well as phytosanitary control and inspection, including in the free zones. Emirate authorities can issue additional standards and regulations on food safety that have to be consistent with federal rules.[235] Imports generally require an original health certificate issued by the competent authority of the country of origin, a halal certificate for meat and poultry or food derived from animal products or that may contain additives of animal origin, and supporting documents for nutritional or health claims

3.73.  The UAE launched the National Rapid Alert System for Food in 2017 to ensure proper responses when serious food risks are detected, and the MOCCAE also joined the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) and the Gulf Rapid Alert System for Food (GRASF). The GRASF operates to allow food and feed authorities of GCC member States to exchange information on direct or indirect risks to consumers' health. Food items that have been determined as unfit for human consumption by any other country or international organization will be automatically rejected in all Emirates.[236]

3.74.  Ministerial Decree No. 335 of 2018 on Regulating the Importation of Live Animals, Their Products and Their By-products and Federal Law No. 6 of 1979 on Veterinary Quarantine regulate the importation of animals and their products. Ministerial Decree No. 335 of 2018 includes import terms and conditions depending on the animal species, taking into account international standards (World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) standards and guidelines) and comments received from WTO Members on the draft decree to facilitate trade between the UAE and its trading partners.[237] Slaughterhouses intending to export poultry or red meat to the UAE require prior approval by the MOCCAE.[238] To ensure safety from infectious diseases, all animals are subject to quarantine processes, physical inspection, and laboratory testing.[239] As for plant imports, several laws and decrees set out specific requirements in addition to Federal Law No. 5 of 1979 Concerning Agricultural Quarantine.[240] Federal authorities retain the right to put in place targeted regulations or import bans during periods of diseases presenting a risk to animal or plant health in some affected countries. The MOCCAE online portal publishes a list of approved countries for importing certain live animals (sheep, goats, cattle, camels, birds, day‑old chicks, and hatching eggs).[241] Country approval is based on the OIE status of the concerned countries, as well as the evaluation of the exporting countries' veterinary services to ensure their capacity to monitor and control contagious animal diseases

3.75.  Between January 2016 and September 2021, the UAE submitted 272 notifications under the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, including 68 regular notifications and 180 emergency (or addenda emergency) notifications. Seventy-six notifications were joint GCC notifications. The UAE has notified the measures it has taken regarding animal, agricultural, and food consignments in response to the pandemic to facilitate trade in tandem with necessary precautionary measures.[242] In November 2017, Turkey raised a concern regarding documentation requirements for the registration of pesticides.[243]

3.76.  Importation and circulation of organic food inputs and products are regulated by Federal Law No. 5 of 2009 on Organic Inputs and Products and Ministerial Decree No. 768 of 2014. Under the 2012 organic certification scheme, registration and issuance of a conformity certificate for organic products are available for crops, livestock, and processed food. Products marketed as "organic" require certification by ESMA under the Emirates Organic Foods Certification Scheme, independent of their origin.[244] The UAE recognizes 10 international organic standards as equivalent to the UAE ones, which are from Australia, Canada, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, and the United States

3.77.  Importation and registration of pesticides are governed by Federal Law No. 10 of 2020 and Ministerial Decision No. 27 of 2018. Labelling is mandatory for unprocessed agricultural products, processed food products, or feed products or seed that contain more than 1% genetically modified ingredients. Any genetically modified product must be approved for use in the country of origin for human or animal consumption.[245]

3.78.  The UAE is a member of the OIE, the Codex Alimentarius, and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The MOCCAE is committed to adopting IPPC measures and guidelines, and to communicating with the IPPC on every relevant SPS issue

3.55.  In 2020, the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) was merged into the newly founded MoIAT, which took over all issues related to standardization and metrology.[214] As the sole standardization body in the UAE, the MoIAT issues (and supervises the implementation of) standards in the fields of safety, health, and environment. At the regional level, the UAE is a member of the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO), which coordinates the development of and approves GCC standards and technical regulations to facilitate trade and economic integration, protect consumers and the environment, and support economic development.[215] The Ministry of Health and Prevention is responsible for medicines

3.56.  The MoIAT is also the sole authority responsible for metrology in the UAE following the merger of ESMA into the MoIAT; it is tasked to manage measurement and calibration activities and to renew the National Metrology System. The Emirates Metrology Institute as National Metrology Institute of the UAE maintains the 12 national measurement standards, provides advice on metrology issues, and represents the UAE internationally in organizations and events related to metrology.[216] The UAE is a member of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) and joined the International Committee for Weights and Measures Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM‑MRA) in 2016

3.57.  The MoIAT participates in the standards‑setting procedures at the GSO. GSO standards are developed under the leadership of a GSO Technical Committee or the leadership of a member State's standards‑setting body, before being circulated for comments, discussed, and adopted by the majority of the GCC Technical Council members. A fast‑track mechanism exists to adopt international standards such as those from the International Standards Organization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML), or Codex Alimentarius.[217] Adopted GCC standards can subsequently be used and referred to in the design of national standards, while existing national standards inconsistent with GSO standards have to be withdrawn.[218] The MoIAT has led the development of GSO standards in the technical committees on chemicals and textiles, and cosmetics and personal care products. The GSO's Technical Council and Higher Ministerial Committee for Standardization can also adopt GCC Technical Regulations that apply directly in member States unless there is specific national legislation with the same objective. As of June 2021, the GSO had issued more than 20,000 standards and more than 1,300 GCC technical regulations.[219]

3.58.  At the national level, standards are usually drafted by the Standards Department of the MoIAT before being discussed further in one of the technical committees, in which private sector representatives also participate. Standards are then approved by the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology (formerly by the Board of the ESMA). Between 2016 and 2021, ESMA and subsequently the MoIAT established an additional 6,161 standards, bringing the total number to 26,500. More than 95% of standards reflected GCC standards at the end of 2020

3.59.  Technical regulations are developed by the MoIAT based on a request from the Government, producers, or consumers based on needs for environmental or consumer protection. Drafts of technical regulations developed by the MoIAT with broad stakeholder involvement are circulated nationally and to the WTO for comments before being adopted by the Cabinet based on a recommendation of the MoIAT. The number of technical regulations adopted stood at 1,214 at the end of 2020. All national standards and technical regulations are published in the Official Gazette

3.60.  Over the review period, the UAE made 214 notifications under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade: 43 notifications by the UAE alone and 171 joint notifications by all GSO members. Most of these covered draft standards and technical regulations for WTO Members to comment. Other WTO Members raised concerns regarding a few draft standards as they continued to be discussed by GSO members.[220]

3.61.  Products covered by technical regulations require a certificate of conformity prior to their import. Under the UAE Conformity Assessment Scheme (ECAS), the MoIAT accepts certificates of conformity issued by specifically MoIAT‑accredited conformity assessment bodies in the UAE and abroad, according to UAE technical regulations.[221] Since 2018, it has become mandatory to print the ECAS Mark of Conformity on such ECAS‑accredited products with some exceptions such as cosmetics, tobacco products, and energy drinks.[222] An automated system of conformity assessment is in place and processed all applications in 2020

3.62.  The National Accreditation Department under the MoIAT accredits compliant conformity assessment bodies under the Emirates National Accreditation Scheme (ENAS), which it manages. ENAS accredits conformity assessment bodies (including calibration and testing laboratories), certification bodies, inspection bodies, medical laboratories, and halal certification bodies.[223] ENAS is a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), the International Halal Accreditation Forum (IHAF), and other regional fora. ENAS has joined the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation mutual recognition agreement (APAC MRA) and became a full member in June 2019 following a peer review of its competence to accredit certification bodies in line with ISO/IEC 17011.[224] As the APAC MRA is recognized by ILAC, calibration and testing laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by ENAS are therefore recognized globally.[225] Accreditation centres exist also at the emirate level, for example, the Emirates International Accreditation Centre in Dubai, which is also a full member of APAC, is recognized for accreditation in various management systems. According to the authorities, 155 bodies are accredited under ENAS

3.63.  The UAE notified its acceptance of the WTO TBT Code of Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards in 2006. The MoIAT is the national enquiry point and participates as a member in the activities of the IEC; the ISO; the ILAC; the GSO; the Arab Industrial Development, Standardization, and Mining Organization (AIDSMO); the OIML; the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC); and Codex Alimentarius

3.64.  Although harmonized across the seven Emirates, labelling requirements are defined at the emirate level and apply to toys, tobacco products, food, chemical products, industrial products, drinking water, textiles, and cosmetics. Requirements for labels generally include all ingredients, food additives, the origin of any ingredients of animal origin, the country of origin, the producer's address, expiry dates, and storage conditions. These must be in Arabic, which can be added on a separate sticker that is difficult to remove and does not cover any of the original label. Dubai Municipality also requires the inclusion of a barcode, specific per product and packaging size. Electrical household products also require a mandatory "green product" energy and water efficiency label issued by the MoIAT. Tobacco packages require a special health warning in Arabic. Individual Emirates have issued their own detailed food labelling requirements, for example, Abu Dhabi also issued its own Food Law.[226]

3.65.  To market goods as "halal" in the UAE, they need to display the National Halal Mark, which can be obtained from the MoIAT following submission of a halal certificate, and declarations of compliance and accountability. In late 2021, there were 76 global halal certification bodies that have been certified by the MoIAT to provide halal certificates that are acceptable for an application

3.66.  The MoIAT also issues a mostly voluntary Emirates Quality Mark to interested companies, but the quality mark is mandatory for bottled drinking water, milk and dairy products, and juices and beverages