If you manufacture, import, or sell food and beverage products in the UAE, you must register them with the Dubai Municipality or the relevant authority. This registration, done via a unique barcode on the authority’s website, ensures compliance with government guidelines. The product label is inspected for adherence to these guidelines. This is a compulsory step for legal sale of your products in the UAE.
Process
There is a standard process for the registration of food and beverage products in the UAE. Follow this step-by-step guide to complete the registration process for your food and beverage products:
Documents Required
Food Product Registration with Dubai Municipality (DM)
The primary requirement is to register the food product with the Dubai Municipality. The DM registers all food products through its Food Import & Re-export System (FIRS).
Submission of Relevant Documents
You will need to submit various documents to the DM, including your company’s trade licence, contact information (email, telephone, fax), location in Dubai, and the name and mobile number of the company’s representative.
Additional Requirements for Imported Goods
If you are importing food products, additional information and documents are required, such as a packing list, Invoice, an original health certificate from the country of origin, and a Halal certificate from an approved Islamic organisation.
Food Product Label Approval
The label of the food product must include important information such as the shelf life, country of origin, storage conditions, and any other relevant details. The label approval process ensures compliance with labelling regulations.
Prohibited Items
It is important to note that certain items, including alcohol, poppy seeds, and others specified by the authorities, cannot be applied for registration as food products.
Sampling and Testing
During the registration process, a food officer may take a sample of the product for laboratory testing at the food department. This testing is conducted to ensure compliance with quality standards.
Quality Checking by ESMA
The Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) also checks the quality of food products. Non-food items, such as health supplements, have a different registration procedure.
Unique Product Names
Each food product must have a unique name and Barcode for identification and differentiation purposes.
Other Requirements
There are certain label requirements set by the Dubai Municipality for food and beverage product registration. When applying for the registration of your food and beverage products, make sure the mandated label requirements are followed. Here’s a list of label requirements
- Brand name
- Storage conditions
- Batch number
- Product name
- Nutritional facts
- Manufacturer details
- Ingredients list
- Allergic warning (if any)
- Product barcode
- Net Weight or volume
- Production and expiration dates
- Country of origin
- Instructions for usage (if needed)
Government Fees
The food and beverage product registration cost includes a non-refundable application charge of AED 10 plus an extra AED 220 to download the approval certificate once the product has been approved. The fee for food label approval in the UAE is AED 7 per food card.