Because of the severe penalties for noncompliance with the UAE’s Food Safety Law and associated rules, it is of the utmost importance that businesses in the UAE adhere to it. To safeguard individuals from potentially dangerous, tainted, or deceptive foods, the government passed Federal Law No. 10 of 2015 on Food Safety (Food Safety Law).
Food businesses that produce, manufacture, prepare, process, package, transport, import, store, distribute, submit, display, sell, or export food fall within the purview of the Food Safety Law. These locations might be temporary or permanent structures.
Depending on the nature of the activity, several permissions and permits may be needed under the Food Safety Law. According to Article 7/1 of the Food Safety Law, no business, industry, or profession may deal with food without first receiving official approval. According to Article 7/2 of the Food Safety Law, all food businesses are required to register their products with the government before selling them to the public. In addition, the UAE’s Ministry of Environment and Water must approve any food being imported into the country for the first time, and the right paperwork and certifications must be shown alongside the food at the ports.
Article 9 of the Food Safety Law imposes certain responsibilities on the owners or managers of businesses. The Food Safety Law and its corresponding standard specifications and technical regulations stipulate a number of measures that must be taken before food is considered fit for human consumption, including the implementation of approved food safety systems, the notification of competent authorities when food poses a health risk, the maintenance of accurate and valid food-related data for tracking purposes, and the withdrawal or retrieval of unsafe food.
Article 12/2 of the Food Safety Law forbids businesses from selling unsafe, unhealthy, adulterated, misleading, or unsuitable foods. It is also forbidden (Article 12/4) to make any changes to or get rid of any retained food data or components without the express authorization of the competent authorities.
Article 14 of the Food Safety Law specifies the penalties for infractions. Penalties include up to AED 2,000,000 in penalties and/or imprisonment of at least 3 months for trading in contaminated, toxic, or rotten food at any step of the food chain. Without a proper license, it is possible to face up to AED 500,000 in fines and up to 1 month in jail for dealing in foods that are forbidden by Sharia’a law, such as pork and alcohol. If you intentionally mislead consumers with inaccurate food descriptions, you could face fines of up to AED 100,000. The maximum penalty for breaking technical rules is AED 100,000. In addition, a fine of AED 10,000 is set down under the Law’s general penalty provision for any infraction that is not specifically addressed.
In conclusion, it is imperative that businesses in the UAE strictly adhere to the Food Safety Law and its requirements in order to avoid harsh consequences, including hefty fines and potential jail.
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