export requirements- uae

7/25/2019 Export requirements- UAE

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All you should know before exporting to UAE


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Contents

1 CertificationProcess.................................................................................................................................. 3

1.1 ExportCertificatesRequired............................................................................................................ 3

1.2 SpecificAttestationRequiredOnTheExportCertificate............................................................ 4

1.3 GovernmentCertificateLegalEntryRequirements..................................................................... 4

1.4 OtherCertification/Accreditation Requirements.......................................................................... 4

2............................................................................................................................................................................ 5

3 LabelingRequirements............................................................................................................................. 5

3.1 GeneralRequirements...................................................................................................................... 5

3.2 Labelingregulations......................................................................................................................... 5

4 OtherRegulationsandRequirements..................................................................................................... 8

5 OtherSpecificStandards........................................................................................................................... 8

6 ImportProcedures..................................................................................................................................... 9

7 CustomsproceduresforAgriculturalGoods....................................................................................... 10

7.1 CustomsRegimes............................................................................................................................ 10

7.1.1

ImportforHomeConsumption................................................................................................ 10

7.1.2 TemporaryImport(ImportforReExport).............................................................................. 11

7.1.3 Warehouse................................................................................................................................... 11

8 Appendix................................................................................................................................................... 13

8.1 AnnexureCountryofOriginCertificateSample..................................................................... 13

8.2 AnnexureHalalSlaughterCertificate....................................................................................... 14

8.3 AnnexureHealthCertificate....................................................................................................... 15

8.4

FoodColors...................................................................................................................................... 16

8.4.1 AnnexurePermittedFoodColors(Natural)........................................................................ 16

8.4.2 AnnexurePermittedFoodColors(Artificial)....................................................................... 18

8.4.3 Annexure ColoringallowedinSelectFoods......................................................................... 18

8.4.4 Annexure ProhibitedColoring............................................................................................... 20


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1

CertificationProcess

1.1 ExportCertificatesRequired1

Products Titleof

Certificate

AttestationRequiredon

Certificate

Purpose Requesting

Ministry

Dry

pea,

lentil,

Rice,seeds,

fresh

fruits

&

vegetables,

etc.

Animal&Plant

Health

Inspection

Service(APHIS)

Phytosanitary

Certificate

Thisistocertifythatthe

plant(s)

Product(s)describedherein

havebeeninspectedand/or

testedaccordingto

appropriate

officialprocedures,are

consideredtobefreefrom

quarantinepests,andconform

toPhytosanitaryregulationsof

theimportingcontracting

party

includingthoseforregulated

nonquarantinepest.

Pestand

insect

free

confirmation

Health

Department

ofthelocal

municipality,

Ministryof

Environment

&Water

All

products Countryof

OriginCertificate

Thegoodsareof xxxorigin Countryof

origin

confirmation

Customs

Authority

All

products Health

Certificate

Thegoodshavebeenprepared

andshippedundersanitary

conditionsandarefitfor

human

consumption.

Health

Certificate

Health

Department

Meat

&

Poultry

Products

FoodSafety

Inspection

Service(FSIS)

ExportHealth

Certificate

Animalswereslaughteredand

processedinaccordanceto

U.S.

healthregulations

Product

produce

under

hygienic

conditions

Health

Department

Meat

&

Poultry

Products

HalalSlaughter

Certificate

Animalswereslaughteredin

AccordingtoIslamic/Sharia

laws

&requirements

Product

produce

inaccordance

withSharia

Law

Health

Department

1PleaserefertoAnnexures9.1,9.2and9.3forcertificateexamples


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confirmation1

1.2 SpecificAttestationRequiredOnTheExportCertificate

HalalslaughterandhealthcertificatesneedtobenotarizedbytheUAEEmbassyorConsulate(or

anyotherArabEmbassyorConsulateintheabsenceoftheUAEEmbassy)inIndia. Nonnotarized

certificatesmaybesentbackfornotarizationwithin15days.

1.3 GovernmentCertificateLegalEntryRequirements

Originalcertificatesmustaccompanyshipmentatthetimeofentry.Sometimesimportersare

allowedtohavethedocumentssenttotheirbanks.

Certificates

are

used

for

only

the

accompanying

shipment

since

it

carries

the

details

of

theshipment.

U.S.Stateissuedexportcertificatesareacceptable.

Modificationtoanycertificateisnotpermittedonceissuedandshippedaccompanyingthe

product.

1.4 OtherCertification/AccreditationRequirements

Originalinvoice,billofladingandpackinglistarerequiredtoaccompanytheabovereferenced

certificatestomeetdocumentationrequirementsoftheCustomsAuthorityforthereleaseofthe

shipment.


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2

LabelingRequirements

2.1 GeneralRequirements

TheFoodDepartmentoftheDubaiMunicipalitytooktheinitiativetodraftafoodimport

mechanismwhichtranslatesthelabelingandshelflifestandardstoanapplicationprocedure.It

alsoprovidesboththeimporterandtheexporterfurtherclarificationtothestandardsandthe

methodofapplication.

2.2 Labelingregulations

WhiletheUAEhasacceptedEnglishonlylabelsinthepast,bilinguallabelsarenowrequired.

Arabicstickersandlabelsshouldbelegibleandshow,atleast,thefollowinginformation:

1.Productdescription;

2.Ingredients;

3.Countryoforigin;and

4.Netweight

Someproducts,suchproductsintendedforinstitutionaluse,maybeexemptfromtheArabic

labelingrequirement,butthemechanismisdesignedtoeventuallyprovidegreaterclarityonthis

point.Exporters

should

work

closely

with

their

importers

to

ensure

that

their

products

will

meet

theneedsofretailers.

Labelingregulationsapplytoallproductsshippedinbulkandinstitutionalsizedcontainers. Bulk

cartonsoffreshfruitsandvegetablesmustcontainmostlabelinformation,butneednotcarry

production/expirydates.However,productiondatingcontinuestobeakeydifference. Afoodlabel

mustcontainthefollowinginformation:

Productname(nameofthefood)inaprominentpositiononthelabel;

Ingredientsindescendingorderofproportion;

Additives

using

their

E

number

(group

names

are

accepted)

Thesourceoftheanimalfats(beef,buffalo,etc)

o AnimalfatsandingredientsshouldbesourcedfromanimalsthatareHalal

slaughtered. Theuseofporkfat,aswithallporkrelatedproductsasingredients,is

restricted. Porkproductsmaybesoldindesignatedexcludedareasofretailstores

andincertainrestaurants. OthernonHalalmeats(meatandpoultry)arepermitted

importthroughanexemptionissuedbytheDirector,FoodControlSectionofthe


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municipality. Suchproductsaresubjecttocertainrestrictions,i.e.,canonlybesold

tononMuslimsviathedesignatedareas/establishments. Labelsforporkandpork

containingproductsmustcomplywiththegenerallabelingrequirementsandmust

clearlystatethattheproductcontainspork. Foodlabelsmaynotincludepicturesof

pork,normayrecipeslistpork. Toavoidconfusionwithregulatoryofficialsand

consumers,exportersmaywishtosteerclearofnamestraditionallyassociatedpork

onnonporkproductssuchasturkeyhamorbeefbacon;however,thisisnota

requirementandsuchnamesarepermitted.

Thefoodstuffandingredientswhichareknowntocausehypersensitivityshall alwaysbe

declared;

Netcontentinmetricunits;

Productionandexpirydates

o Production/expirydatesmustbeengraved,embossed,printedorstampeddirectly

ontotheoriginallabelorprimarypackagingatthetimeofproduction,using

indelibleink. P/Edatesprintedonstickersarenotanacceptablealternative,aswell

asU.S.barcodinginlieuofP/Edates. OnlyonesetofP/Edatesonthelabelis

permitted. P/Edatesmustbeprintedinthefollowingfashion,dependinguponthe

shelflifeoftheproduct:

Day/month/yearforproductswithashelflifeofthree(3)monthsorless

Month/yearforproductswithashelflifelongerthanthree(3)months

Underthemonth/yearformat,thelastdayofthemonthisconsideredtheexpiry

date.Exporters

who

list

the

first

day

of

the

month

following

the

expiry

date

have

run

intoissueswhentryingtoclearshipments. Themonthmaybeprintedinnumbers

orletters. Forexample,both3/08andMarch08areacceptableformats.

ThewordProductionortheletterPmustprecedetheproductiondate. The

expirydatemustbeprecededbyoneofthefollowingstatements:Expiration

(date);Fitfor..fromthedateofproduction;Useby(date);Usebefore

(date);Sellby(date);Validuntil(date)fromthedateofproduction;ortheletter

E.

Countryoforigin;

Thenameandaddressofthemanufacturer,producer,distributor,importer,exporteror

vendorshallbedeclaredonthelabel;

Specialstorageandpreparationinstructions,ifany;

Foodsmakinghealthclaimsmustbelabeledaccordinglyandrequirepreapprovalbythe

MinistryofHealth;


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Lotidentification.

Alcoholicbeveragesandalcoholcontainingproductscanbeimportedbutonlythroughauthorized

importerswho

run

their

own

retail

shops.

There

are

no

special

labeling

requirements

for

alcoholic

beveragesbeyondwhatistypicallyrequiredinthecountryoforigin. Aswithfoodproducts,

labelsforpetfoodsmustbeprintedinArabic. Arabic/Englishlabelsarepermitted,asareArabic

stickersinlieuofArabiclabels. ThepetfoodlabelmustcontainthestatementNotfitforhuman

consumption. Production/expirydatesarerequiredforpetfoods.

Mostmajormunicipalitiesofferthefollowingservicestofacilitatefoodproductimports:

Preshipmentapprovalof:

FoodLabels Copiesoflabelscanbesent(faxcopiesoremailsareacceptable)directlyor

throughoneoftheimporterstohealthofficialsforreviewandregistration,atnocost.

Whenapprovedandregistered,theproductsbarcodewillbeaddedtothemunicipalitys

listofapprovedandregisteredproducts.Thisprocedureismeanttofacilitatethe

importationofproductsandreduceclearancetime. Whilepreapprovalisnotrequired,

ATODubaistronglyencouragesexporterstohavelabelsfornewproductspreapproved.

Products Officialswillanalyzeaproducttodeterminecompliancewithfoodingredient

standards. Costsinvolvedvary,dependingontypeofproductandingredients.

LaboratorytestingisrequiredonfirstconsignmentstotheUAE.Thesameproductmaybe

subjectto

future

random

laboratory

testing.

While

pre

approval

is

not

required,

ATO

Dubaiencouragesexporterstohavetheiringredientspreapprovedfornewproducts.

Occasionally,localhealthofficialswillpermittheimportationoffoodproductswithminorlabeling

infractions. Exemptionsaregrantedonaonetimebasisandthesaleofsuchproductsusuallyis

limitedtoinstitutionalendusers.


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3

OtherRegulationsandRequirements

Allimportedfoodproductsmustbeaccompaniedby:

Ahealthcertificateissuedbytheappropriategovernmentagencyintheexporterscountry,

attestingtotheproductsfitnessforhumanconsumption,

AHalalslaughtercertificateissuedbyaUAEapprovedU.S.IslamicCenterandnotarizedbythe

UAEEmbassy/Consulate,

BillofEntryorAirwayBill,

Packinglist,

CountryofOriginCertificate.

TheUAEEmbassyorUAEConsulateintheUnitedStatesmustnotarizehealthandHalalslaughter

certificates.

Therearenospecialpackagingorcontainersizerequirementsforfoodproducts. TheUAEdoesnot

allowtheimportationofirradiatedfoodproducts. Aradiationfreecertificateisrequiredforfood

productsfromEuropeandAsia.

Therearenospecificrequirementsforimportedfoodsamples. Samplesforfoodshowsandother

promotionaleventsareroutinelyexemptfromlocallabelingandshelfliferequirements. Product

samplesmustbeclearlymarkedassamplesandaccompaniedbyastatementclaimingthattheyare

notforsale.

Since1998theUAEhasleviedacommercialinvoicelegalizationfee(equivalentto1percentofthe

consignmentvalue)onallimportedproducts. ThefeecanbepaidattheUAEEmbassy/Consulate

orintheUAEuponarrival. ProductswillnotbereleasedfromCustomsuntilthefeeispaid.

4

OtherSpecificStandards

Inspectionofficialsroutinelycheckforsalmonellainpoultryproducts. Ifsalmonellaisdetectedinmorethan20percentoftestedsamples,theshipmentwillberejected.

Importsofalcoholicbeveragesarestrictlycontrolled. Onlyafewlocalcompaniesarelicensedto

importandsellalcoholicbeverages. Theseproductsareexemptfromlocallabelingrequirements.

Theimportofnonalcoholicbeveragesispermitted,buttheseproductscannotcontainmorethan

0.05percentofalcoholbyvolume. Theseproductsarealsoexemptfromlocallabelingrequirements.


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Thesaleofporkproductsisstrictlyregulatedandconfinedtowellmarkedareasofsupermarkets.

Restaurantsmustclearlyidentifyproductsonthemenuthatcontainpork. Onlyselectedretail

outletsandhotelsarepermittedtosellpork.

TheUAEMinistryofAgricultureandFisheries(MAF)isresponsibleforregulatingtheimportation

ofliveanimalsandplants.

5

ImportProcedures

TheUAEboastssomeofthemostmodernairandseaportfacilitiesintheworld. Foodshipments

usuallyareoffloaded,inspectedbyhealthofficialsandclearedthroughcustomswithinhoursof

arrivalatport. (Dubaiportsaretheprimaryentrypointsforfoodproducts.)

Everyfoodshipmentissubjecttovisualinspectionuponarrivaltoensurecompliancewithlabeland

shelfliferegulations. Shipmentsaresubjecttorandomlaboratoryanalysis. Babyfoodsandedible

oilsaresubjectto100percentsampling. Otherfoodproductsaresampledinaccordancewiththe

samplingpolicymanual,whichsetsoutthefrequencyofsamplingbasedonfoodtype,brandand

countryoforigin. Aconsignmentundergoinglaboratoryanalysisisstoredunderbonded

warehouseselectedbytheimporter,withinthesameemirateofarrival. Laboratoryresultsare

generallyknownwithin510days. Newtomarketfoodproductsaresubjecttothoroughlaboratory

analysis. Oncecleared,theyaresubjecttorandomsamplingasareotherfoodproductsonthe

market.

Aproduct

will

be

rejected

if

found

unfit

for

human

consumption

or

non

compliant

with

label

requirements. Ineithercase,theproductwouldbedestroyedbythelocalmunicipalityorre

exportedtothecountryoforiginwithin30days,attheimportersdiscretion. Productsnot

conformingtolabelrequirementsmaybereexportedtoathirdcountry(nonGCC). Finesmaybe

imposed,dependingontheseverityoftheviolation.

AproductrejectionmaybeappealedtotheHealthDepartmenthavingjurisdictionoverthatport.

Themunicipalitywillconveyaspecialcommitteetoreviewthepetitionandissueafinaldecision,

normallywithinaweek. Thecommitteesdecisionisfinal.

Incase

of

a

minor

label

infraction,

a

shipment

may

be

permitted

entry

on

a

one

time

basis

for

limited

sale,i.e.,toinstitutionalendusersonly. Amajorinfraction,suchasimproperlabelingofproducts

containingporkortamperingwithP/Edates,isseverelypunished,particularlythoseinfractions

discoveredafterimport. Suchproductsareautomaticallybannedfromimport,usuallyforseveral

months,andthebrandnameandimporterisoftenreportedinthepress.


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6

CustomsproceduresforAgriculturalGoods

ApreconditionfortheclearanceofanimportofanyagriculturalfoodproductintoDubai(the

primaryportwhichwillbeusedforexportintoUAE)istheImportCertificatefromtheDubai

Municipality. SimilarFoodControlandEnvironmentLaboratoriesprovidethisfunctionineach

Emirate. Also,foranyfoodproductthatistoentertheUAE,theremustbealicensegrantedtothe

consigneetotradeinfoodstuffs. Importsofagriculturalproductslistedbelowmustbeapprovedby

theFoodControlSectionofthePublicHealthDepartmentoftheDubaiMunicipality:

Cerealandwheatorryeflour,groatsormeal

Riceandbrokenrice

Productsprocessedfromcereals

Cerealbasedcompoundfeedingstuffs

Beefandveal

Pigmeat

Poultrymeat

Eggs

Milkandmilkproducts

Productsprocessedfromfruitsandvegetables

Oliveoil

Whiteandrawsugarwithoutfurtherprocessing

Syrupsandothersugarproducts;and

Wine

6.1 CustomsRegimes

6.1.1 ImportforHomeConsumption

ForanyfoodproductthatistoentertheUAE,theremustbealicensegrantedtotheconsigneeto

tradeinfoodstuffs. Customsrequiresthefollowingdocumentation:

Importer sLicensetotradeinfoodstuff

ImportGoodsDeclaration

DubaiMunicipalityapprovalletter

CommercialInvoice

CertificateofOrigin

BillofLading

PackingList

DeliveryOrder(addressedtotheCustomsDepartmentstatingthedescriptionofthe

carrierandthecargoandstatingtowhomthecargoistobedelivered).


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6.1.2 TemporaryImport(ImportforRe-Export)

TheDirectorGeneralofCustomsmaygranttemporaryadmissionforthefollowingitems:

Heavymachineryandequipmentneededtocompletespecificprojectorneededfor

conductingtestsforaspecificproject

Foreigngoodsimportedforprocessing

Anyitemsimportedforexhibitionsandthelike

Machineryandequipmentimportedforthepurposeofrepair

Containersandpackingmaterialsimportedforrefilling

Animalsadmittedforgrazing

IfimportedfoodproductsenterDubaiforreexport,theimportermustsupplyawritten

undertakingthatthefoodstuffswillnotbesoldinDubaiandthatthegoodshaveenteredfora

specialpurpose

satisfying

the

temporary

admission

requirements.

In

addition:

Depositorbankguaranteefortheestimateddutypayable

Afterreexportingthedocumentstheimportermustsubmitevidencethatthe goodshave

beenexportedtotheDubaiMunicipalitysFoodControlsection.

6.1.3 Warehouse

TheDirectorGeneralofCustomsmaypermitgoodstobedepositedintobondedwarehousewith

suspensionofdutypaymentuntilenteredforhomeconsumptionorexported. Theconsigneemust

submitadepositorbankguaranteefortheestimateddutypayable. Thereisatimelimitof365days

forstorageafterwhichdutywillbecharged. Warehousesystemisprimarilyforstorage,soany

activitiesthatinvolvevalueaddingarenotpermitted.


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7

Appendix

7.1 AnnexureCountryofOriginCertificateSample


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7.2 AnnexureHalalSlaughterCertificate


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7.3 AnnexureHealthCertificate


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7.4 FoodColors

7.4.1 AnnexurePermittedFoodColors(Natural)

Thefollowingisalistoffoodcolors,naturalandartificial,permittedintheUAE:

Color/ International Other

Description

Number

Names

RedtoYellowColors

Carmine 120 Cochineal,CarminicAcid

Annatoextracts 160B Bixin,Norbixin

BetaCarotene 160A Caroteneblend

Lycobine 160D

BetaApo8carotenal 160E

BetaApo8carotenoidacid 160F

Lutein 161B

Carrotoil None

Beetrootred 162 Betanine

RedtoPurpleShade

Anthocyanins 163(i)

Grapeskinextract 163(ii)

Blackcurrantextract 163(iii) Enocianina

Beetpowder None

Paprika None

Paprikaoleoresin 160C


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OrangeandYellowColors

Saffron None Naturalyellow6

Turmericpowder 100(ii)

Curcumin 100(i)

Turmericoleoresin None

Riboflavin 101(i)

Riboflavin5SodiumPhosphate 101(ii)

Green

Colors

Chlorophylls 140 Chlorophyllins

Chlorophyllcoppercomplex 141(i)

Sodiumandpotassiumsaltsof 141(ii)

chlorophyllcoppercomplex

BrownColors

Plaincaramel 150A

Causticsulphitecaramel 150B

Ammoniacaramel 150C

Ammoniasulphitecaramel 150D

Black

Color

Activated

vegetable

carbon

153

Inorganic

Colors

Titaniumdioxide 171 Foodwhite6

Ironoxides 172


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7.4.2 AnnexurePermittedFoodColors(Artificial)

Red

Colors

Azorubine 122 Carmosine,Foodred3

AlluraRed17 129 Foodred40

Yellow

Colors

SunsetyellowFCF 110 Foodyellow3,FoodorangeS,Yellow6forfood,drugsandcosmetics

Tartrazine 102 Foodyellow4,Yellow5forfood,drugsandcosmetics

Brown

Color

ChocolatebrownHT 155 Foodbrown3

Green

Color

FastgreenFCF143 Foodgreen3,Green3forfood,drugsandcosmetics

Blue

Colors

Indigotine 132 Carmineindigo,Blue2for food,drugsandcosmetics,Foodblue1

BrilliantblueFCF 133 Foodblue2,Blue1forfood,drugsandcosmetics

Black

Color

BrilliantblackBN 151 Foodblack1,BlackPN

7.4.3 Annexure- ColoringallowedinSelectFoods

InternationalNumber

Color

Food

MaximumLimit

127 Erythrosine CherryandProducts None


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128 Red2G Sausages 20ppm

161G Canthaxanthin CookedSausages 30ppm

FrozenFoods 100ppm

173 Aluminum ExternalCoverfor

CakeandPasta

AccordingtoGood

ProductionPractice

174 Silver ExternalCoverfor

Sweets

AccordingtoGood

ProductionPractice

175 Gold ExternalCoverfor

Sweets

AccordingtoGood

ProductionPractice

180 Lithotrubine CheeseCovering AccordingtoGood

ProductionPractice

None OrangeB Sausageand

FrankfurtersCovering

150ppm

None CitrusRed2 OrangePeel 2ppm


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7.4.4 Annexure- ProhibitedColoring

InternationalNumber Color Remarks

104 Quinolinyellow Prohibitedinallfoodproducts

124 Ponceau4R Prohibitedinallfoodproducts

SudanReds1234

Prohibitedinallfoodproducts

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