The United Arab Emirates has always been a global hotspot for the food and beverages (F&B) industry. The country heavily depends on imports to satisfy the needs of its highly diverse, dynamic and multifaceted demographic. But even with the rising demands, the UAE stands committed to maintaining high standards and delivering the best products and services to its multicultural crowd.
For seasoned entrepreneurs and first time business owners alike, steering through the complex regulatory landscape of the United Arab Emirates can be daunting, exhausting and back-breaking, but when you strip the rules down to its core elements such as licensing, product registration, customs and labelling, you can ensure a well managed and successful entry into the market.
In this blog, Damaar, a business setup consultant in Dubai, will explain how to import and sell edible products in the UAE, and how you can get a Foodstuff Trading License in Dubai to set up your foodstuff import business there.
Corporate Setup and Licensing Requirements
The United Arab Emirates law does not permit unlicensed foreign companies to import food directly onto their mainland. Therefore, even before the very first product is being transported across the border, you must set up a legal business entity in the UAE. It must be operational and should adhere to all the rules and regulations of the country.
For this purpose, you have the freedom to establish your own corporate identity, or you can join hands with a licensed local distributor who will be operating as your importer on record, and if you decide to go with setting up your own base, there are two choices available for you.
Mainland Setup:
You can launch a company through the Department of Economic Development (DED) in the Emirate of your choice. After the mandatory verification processes and paperwork, you will be granted a Food Trading License, which allows you to sell your products and services directly in the UAE market.
Free Zone Setup:
Business owners can register their company in a dedicated free zone such as JAFZA or Meydan Free Zone, this comes with a lot of advantages such as 100% corporate ownership, but you will require the services of a local logistics team or a robust distribution partner to transport your products from the free zone to the UAE mainland.
Once your trade license becomes active, your business must be registered as a food importing enterprise with the municipality like the Dubai Municipality or the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority with the help of digital integration systems like ZAD.
Pre-Import Product Registration
According to the laws of the United Arab Emirates, each and every edible product must be registered and approved by the food safety authorities of the country before they land at the port. This preemptive step by the government is to make sure that no toxic, harmful and banned substances will reach the UAE market.
In Dubai, such preventive measures are managed and conducted by the Montaji system, however other emirates employ their respective municipalities for the purpose of inspecting quality control. In order to successfully register your food products, you should submit a detailed technical report that includes:
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A detailed breakdown of the ingredients, which must also consist of E-numbers and food additives.
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A collection of full HD photos showing end to end packaging of the food items.
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Quality Analysis reports issued within 12 months by an accredited institution or facility.
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A certificate that permits Free Sale issued by the government of the country of origin.
Halal Certification:
The Halal Certificate is mandatory for all kinds of meat products as well as poultry and other edible items that contain derivatives such as gelatin. Moreover, the certificate must be issued by an accredited Islamic body or organization that has been officially recognized by the United Arab Emirates.
Strict Food Labelling Requirements
The UAE mandates food import companies must follow robust and sturdy packaging guidelines in accordance with the Gulf Standardisation Organization (GSO). Mistakes and errors that occur during labelling are considered the primary drivers of rejections and delays during port clearance.
Therefore, names and labels must be written clearly and accurately, and no tactics must be used to hide real information, as per the law, every imported food package must have the following details:
Bilingual Text:
All details of the package must be written in English and Arabic, and the font size of both the languages must be the same, one must not be smaller or bigger than the other.
Date Formatting:
The dates on the imported products must follow the DD/MM/YYYY format. Any other formats will not be given clearance and will be rejected immediately.
Product Particulars:
The product name, brand, size, its weight and volume, and its country of manufacture must be clearly mentioned. No attempt must be made to hide any such relevant information.
Traceability Data:
The product must contain the details of its international origin, such as name and address, along with the contact information and the trade license number of its authorized partner in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Nutritional & Allergen Profiles:
A whole nutritional table per 100g/ml, encapsulating energy, proteins, fats, carbohydrates and sodium, along with a clear, well written declaration of 14 major allergens.
Customs and Required Documentation
After your products receive all the necessary approvals and clearances, the cargo can be moved to customs. In the United Arab Emirates, the UAE customs manages the physical border control. Where most entry points are headed by inspectors from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) to supervise the process of physical inspection and sampling.
The import is bound to file an import declaration through the customs portal and has to submit a specific set of papers. You have to make sure that the documents given are finalized and attested legally by the UAE embassy in the country of export.
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The original invoice and a detailed packing list.
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The billing details for sea and air freight.
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An official certificate declaring the origin for the products.
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An original health certificate issued by the food safety department of the exporting country, stating that the products are fit and safe for human consumption.
