How to apply to release imported food consignments for sale in the local market in Dubai?

This service enables you to obtain an approval for the release of a food consignment imported through Dubai or transferred from other emirates ports for local consumption.

Documents Required

1. Bill of entry issued by Dubai Customs.

2. Delivery order - only for containers.

3. Original health certificate for the consignment, issued by a governmental health authority in the country of origin, Or copy of the health certificate or the health certificate number if it is electronically issued to be able to verify the validity of its issuance.

4. Halal certificate or original Halal certificate (for consignments of meat, poultry and derivatives) issued by an Islamic authority in the country of origin and approved by UAE authorities.

5. Any other certificates required by the Food Control Department, as a result of any emerging global developments or according to local decisions, such as:

   • Free of genetically modified organisms (GMO) certificate.

   • Free of Avian Flu certificate.

   • Free of Dioxin certificate.

   • Free of heavy metals (such as nitrofurans and Malachite Green) certificate.

   • Certificate of feeding a diet devoid of fishmeal.

   • Certificate of proof for organic food products issued by entities recognized by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, etc.

   • Free of radiation certificate, from some countries.

   • Health, nutrition, or other certificates when necessary (accepted only if issued by recognized and accredited international scientific entities).

How to apply to release imported food consignments for sale in the local market in Dubai?

• Login to Food Import and Re-Export Services (FIRS).

• Apply for the service and upload the required documents.

• Follow the directions required to clear the shipments from the ports of entry in Dubai.

• Transfer the consignment to the importer's warehouse for inspection purposes (in the case of deferred inspection alongside an undertaking not to touch the consignment prior to the final inspection and release).

• Pay the due fees.

• Submit an application to determine the date and location of the deferred consignment inspection through Dubai Municipality website (FIRS Food Import Re-Export Services).

• Meet the concerned municipality employee for field inspection at the consignment's location.

• Receive the release report through Dubai Municipality website (FIRS Food Import Re-Export Services).

Fees Required

• Transfer of Consignment for Deferred Inspection at the importing company's warehouses: AED 50

• Knowledge and Innovation Fees: AED 20.

Time Required

• 1 working day: if no samples were collected.

• 9 working days: if samples were collected.

Terms and Conditions

• Transferring a consignment to a warehouse for inspection (when needed) requires:

• Availability of a company warehouse in Dubai.

• Online application to conduct the inspection at the trader's warehouse.

• Payment of the due fees.

• (Electronic) undertaking not to touch the consignment until the completion of the inspection and release procedures.

• In order to receive this service, the food establishment must be registered on the Dubai Municipality website through the following link:

• Food items should be registered and the food labels assessed before reaching the port of entry, to ensure the conformity of the products with the approved specifications, facilitating the release procedures.

• The consignment is transferred for deferred inspection at the importer's warehouse in Dubai, in case it was not possible to inspect all food items at the port of entry.

• The importer undertakes not to touch the consignment, until the completion of the inspection and release procedures.

• Conditional release is granted for some food consignments for specific uses in Dubai, or at certain locations, such as: catering for restaurants, ships, the global village, free zones, etc.

• Meat and meat products consignments require a Halal Slaughter Certificate or a Halal Certificate from an accredited entity at the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) or the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC).

• The importer asked for a security deposit (refundable) to release the consignments.

• Registering the company on the Dubai Municipality website in FIRS is for free.

• If the importing company was licensed in another Emirate, and does not own warehouses for deferred inspection in Dubai, it can request the transfer of the consignment to be inspected under the supervision of the concerned municipality in one of the emirates. For that, the company must:

• Obtain the approval of the municipality that will receive the consignment for inspection.

• Pay a security deposit amounting to AED 15,000.

• Pay the due fees of AED 100.

• Submit a consignment acknowledgment and a completion letter from the concerned municipality, to close the file and refund the security deposit, if desired.

• If an imported food item was rejected, one of the following actions can be taken, within a period not exceeding 90 days:

• Submit a request for conditional release for private use, if it was in violation.

• Re-Export the rejected food item and provide the supporting documents.

• Dispose of the food item after obtaining approval.

• A number of food items are prohibited from entering Dubai, including:

• Spoiled or insect infested foods.

• Expired food items.

• Food items with no food labels.

• Food items that do not conform to the UAE food laws.

• Food items that are prohibited by ministerial decisions or administrative circulars.

• Food items (meat and meat products) that do not have health or halal certifications from authorities authorized in the UAE.

• Food items that are imported by companies that do not have a trade license to practice food activity.

• You can apply to refund of security deposits through Dubai Municipality email: foodtradefollowup@dm.gov.ae with a Required Documents:

• Original Payment receipt.

• No Objection Certificate (NOC) to release the security deposit, from the concerned department.

• Copy of the trade license or its full details (for companies).

• Bank account details of the beneficiary.

What are the requirements and procedures for importing food?

• Obtain a trade, industrial or professional license from authorized licensing entities in the UAE, provided that the activity of the license is related to food or general trading.

• Register in the Dubai Municipality website (http://www.dm.gov.ae/) to obtain a user name and password.

• Dubai Municipality services can be obtained by entering the user name and password or through the digital ID (UAEPASS).

• Apply online through Dubai Municipality website and select Food Safety among the municipality's many services.

• Register in the Food Import Re-Export Services (FIRS), a service by the Registration and Permits Section .

• Register in the ZAD Federal Smart Portal for Food Trade in the UAE.

• Pay a security deposit of AED 15,000 (refundable) for an unlimited number of imported consignments. The security deposit is refunded upon request if there no previous consignments were blocked.

• Import food products through ZAD Federal Smart Portal to transfer consignments to and from Dubai or to register products only.

What is FIRS, Food Import Re-Export Services?

• It is an advanced electronic system to monitor imported and exported foods.

• It is required to register all traded food items in the FIRS system, whether imported or locally produced, and linking items with the product identification code number (barcode).

• The services of this system are available from anywhere in the world. The system gives access to users to submit applications and attachments, assess, register, then import, monitor and follow up on food items until the completion of each application and its closure on the system.

• All types of transactions and related fees are paid electronically.

• This system includes an advanced food sampling system with a risk-based analysis of each food items.

• This system allows food establishments to apply online for several services provided by the Food Safety Department, namely:

  • Assess the food label of the product.

  • Register a food item.

  • Apply to import food items through the ports of Dubai into local markets

  • Apply for food import re-export permit.

  • Apply to inspect a consignment transferred to the company's warehouses (DIP).

  • Apply to close all types of consignments files.

  • Apply to issue different health certificates, including food export certificates.

  • Apply to dispose of food and obtain a food disposal certificate.

Can food be imported immediately after registering in the FIRS Food Import Re-Export Services?

• Before any food items are imported into the country, the food establishment must ensure the following:

  • The food product intended to be imported conforms with the approved standards, specifications and laws by obtaining a certificate of assessment for the label of each food item (each barcode). Laboratory testing may be recommended (depending on the food type).

  • The food item must be registered in the FIRS Food Import Re-export Services, where the submission of any import application must contain all the types of foods that are physically present in the imported consignment, provided that any food product not registered is left at the port of entry.

  • The possibility of obtaining a health certificate from a government health authority or an accredited government health authority in the country of origin for all food items in the food consignment (approved health certificate for raw products such as vegetables and fruits).

  • The ability to obtain a Halal certificate for meat-products and their derivatives issued by an Islamic association authorized by UAE approved authorities.

Is there a process to ensure that the food label of the product intended to be imported conforms to the approved specifications and standards?

• You can make sure as follows:

  • Apply to register the food items

  • Request to assess the food label of the product through the Food Import Re-Export Services (FIRS).

What is the process of registering and assessing a food label?

• You can request the registration and assessment of the food label as follows:

  • Apply online through the Food Import Re-Export Services (FIRS), with 1 item per application

  • Attaching a clear photo of both the product and its food label.

• After the food label is evaluated and assessed, the required amendments (if any) are written in the comments area. Then, the assessment is approved and then you can receive the evaluation certificate after paying the due fees.

How can we obtain the nutritional specifications?

• Nutritional specifications can be obtained from the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) website.

What are food additives? Which of them is allowed?

• Food additives are chemicals that are added to food ingredients, but they are not food.

• There are many types of food additives and the reasons for adding them vary. They may be used to preserve or colour food, or as an antioxidant or anticoagulant.

• The permitted food additives according to the UAE standard (UAE.S CAC) No. 192/2016 are:

  • Food additives mentioned in the latest version of Codex Alimentarius. You can check them through GSFA Online Food Additive Index.

  • If not found, check the food additives listed on the European Commission Database website.

  • It is prohibited to use any food additive not mentioned in the previous two sources.

  • Each food additive or its universal number must be written in the product ingredients list with the purpose of its addition, such as E330 (antioxidant) or citric acid (antioxidant).

How can we get a list of accredited entities for issuing Halal certificates in the UAE?

• The list can be obtained from the following website:

  • Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA)

  • Emirates International Accreditation Centre site (EIAC).

How can we get a list of accredited entities for trading and importing organic food products?

• Through the Ministry Of Climate Change And Environment website.

What are the procedures to be followed when an imported food consignment arrives?

• Login to the FIRS Food Import Re-export Services through the Dubai Municipality website.

• Apply for the service.

• Bring the consignment to the port of entry for inspection.

• Submit the original documents required for the consignment.

• Clear the consignment papers.

How is the security deposit refunded?

• The food establishment should ensure that there are no pending consignments in its account with the Dubai Municipality.

• The food establishment wishing to refund the security deposit must send the below required documents on the following e-mail: foodtradefollowup@dm.gov.ae.

  • The documents include:

    • Copy of the trade license

    • Copy of the security deposit receipt

    • Company International bank account number (IBAN number) through a letter/bank statement/certificate from the bank that includes the company's account number.

• If the establishment did not have any pending consignments or any undertaking, the follow-up team sends a request for refund via the ERAD system with the required documents attached.

• The follow-up team responds to the company email, informing them that the request has been sent to the Financial Affairs and Revenue Department for review and approval.

What are the service locations of Registration and Permits Section?

The offices of the Ports Control Section are located as follows:

• Seaports:
  • Port of Jebel Ali, Gates No. (2, 3, 11)
  • Ships dock, Al Hamriya Port.
• Airports:
  • Dubai Flower Centre.
  • Cargo Village, Emirates Airlines Office (EK, FG1).
  • Al Maktoum Airport EK.
  • Al Maktoum International Airport Stage 1.
• Land Ports:
  • Hatta Border Port.
  • Aladdin Square.

What are the working hours of the Ports Control Section?

• Seaports:

  • Port of Jebel Ali, Gates No. (2, 3, 11): 24/7

  • Ship Berths, Al Hamriya Port: from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

• Airports (24/7):

  • Dubai Flower Centre

  • Cargo Village, Emirates Airlines Office (EK, FG1)

  • Al Maktoum Airport EK

  • Al Maktoum International Airport Stage 1.

• Land Ports:

  • Hatta Border Port: 24/7

  • Aladdin Square: from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

• Follow up and transferred consignments:

  • Al Quoz centre: from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Who is the Food Trade Person in Charge (FTPIC)?

• The food trade person in charge is the person assigned by the company to manage all processes related to imported food consignments and authorized to follow up with the Food Safety Department for any related issues in this regard.

How can the Food Trade Person in Charge (FTPIC) be qualified?

• The food trade person in charge can be qualified by:

  • Attending a 3-day training course, organized by the Food Safety Department of Dubai Municipality.

  • Sending the required documents to the following email: foodtradefollowup@dm.gov.ae, to include:

    • An official letter from the food establishment, including the following:

      • The names of people chosen for the course (trainees)

      • Contact numbers and email of each

      • Clarification whether the trainee is an employee of the food establishment or the customs clearance company.

    • Trainees passport copies

    • Valid residence visa

    • Copies of Emirates ID

    • Personal photos (with white background) to issue a health supervisor card.

  • Payment of the due fees: AED 1000.