How to apply to register and assess a food item in Dubai?

This service enables you to register a food item for import or export   through UAE& nbsp; ports, after ensuring its conformity with local and GCC specifications. It also enables you to obtain an assessment of the food label according to the relevant local specifications issued by the Ministry of industry and Advanced Technology and the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO), Codex Alimentarius Commission (CODEX) and the European legislations on food additives.

Documents Required

1. Label of the food item to be assessed and registered.

2. Product photo.

How to apply to register and assess a food item in Dubai?

Food Item Registration:

• Apply for the service through the available channels.

• Upload a photo of the food item and its label.

• Check the food item registration through the available channels.

• Print food item registration certificate through the available channels.

Food Item Label Registration/Assessment:

• Apply for the service through the available channels.

• Upload a photo of the food item and its label.

• Pay the due fees.

• Follow-up on the application through the system.

• Print the label assessment report through the available channels.

Time Required

• Food Item Registration: 1 working day.

• Food Label Assessment: 5 working days.

Fees Required to register and assess a food item in Dubai

• Food Label Approval or Assessment: AED 10 (per label)

• Food Item Registration without Assessment (FITR): Free

• Food Item Registration and Label Assessment: AED 10.

• Knowledge and Innovation Fees: AED 20.

How can I follow-up on the food item registration and assessment process and pay the fees? And how can I print the certificate?

• You can follow up on the registration and assessment of the food items as follows:

  • Log in to the Dubai Municipality website through your username and password.

  • Click on the following options in the same order: My Company, Food Safety Apply to Register and Assess a Food Item Follow-up

  • Enter the application number or the application submission date.

  • Check the "status" at the far right of each application (if the status was "rejected", you can check the reason for rejection by clicking the "View" button and display the reasons at the bottom of the page).

• You can return to the previous page if you requested the payment by:

  • Choosing "electronic payment" from the options menu.

• Other payments methods:

  • Log in to the home page of Dubai Municipality website.

  • Click "Pay Now" at the bottom of the page.

• Once you pay, you will find the option "print" next to the application number.

Terms and Conditions

• This service covers the issuance of an official document detailing the amendments imposed on the food item label in order to meet the required conditions and specifications, to facilitate its entry into the UAE, its local distribution or its re-export.

• The mandatory requirements for a food label in Arabic include: product name, net weight, country of origin, storage conditions, production and expiration dates, nutritional information, list of ingredients, allergens, and the manufacturer or packaging company's name and address.

• This service covers 3 applications:

  • Food Item Registration (FITR)

  • Food Label Assessment (FLAR)

  • Food Registration and Label Assessment (FRLA).

• The food label assessment highlights the illustrative data on the food item packaging, which includes: brand name, product name, list of ingredients, net weight, shelf life, country of origin, storage conditions, factory name and address, nutritional information and allergens, etc.

• Food labels are assessed after the specialized employee receives the application.

• Rejected applications cannot be modified. A new application must be submitted after amending the food label according to the reasons of rejection.

• The Food Label Assessment service does not require re-application if the label was amended according to the highlighted remarks.

• A food item can be re-registered if the manufacturing company made changes to some of its data such as the name, country of origin, product weight, brand, type of packaging and storage conditions. To do so the company must:

  • Apply for Food Item Registration (FITR)

  • Enter all the food item details into the product registration form (except for the barcode)

  • Attach photos of the new food label.

• It is not mandatory to re-register food items already registered through the system, but it is recommended to apply for food label assessment to ensure its conformity.

• It is prohibited to add alcohol to food items however small the percentage, except for naturally occurring alcohols such as grape juice and vinegar, and they should not exceed the maximum limits for ethyl alcohol residues specified in UAE's GSO 2538.

• All specifications related to food items can be purchased through the Ministry of industry and Advanced Technology website.