United Arab Emirates Updates Animal Products Import Rules

United Arab Emirates has revised its import regulations for live animals, animal products, and by-products to strengthen sanitary and phytosanitary controls, affecting HS codes including 010110 and 051199.

Regulation Analysis: UAE Import Controls for Live Animals, Animal Products, and By-Products

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has strengthened its sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls for the import of live animals, animal products, and by-products through Ministerial Resolution No. 335 of 2018 and its subsequent revision. These regulations apply to Harmonized System (HS) codes such as 010110 (live horses, asses, mules, and hinnies) and 051199 (animal products not elsewhere specified or included), among others. The key objectives are to protect animal health and human safety from zoonotic diseases, aligning with international standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)^{1, 2}.

1. Key Regulatory Instruments

A. Ministerial Decree No. 335 of 2018

• Title: Regulation of the Import of Live Animals, Their Products, and By-Products
• Issuing Authority: Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE)
• Entry into Force: Upon publication in the Official Journal (effective from 2 September 2018)².
• Scope:
  • Covers all live animals, animal products (not fit for human consumption), and by-products².
  • Requires exporting countries to amend health certificates for shipments to the UAE within one year of the decree’s issuance (i.e., by 2 September 2019)².
• International Alignment:
  • Conforms to OIE Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Codes^{1, 2}.

B. Ministerial Resolution to Revise Resolution No. 335 of 2018

• Title: Ministerial Resolution to Revise the Regulation of Importing Living Animals, Their Products, and By-Products
• Status: Draft (as of the latest notification, with a comment period ending 24 December 2024)¹.
• Key Updates:
  • Expands or clarifies requirements for import permits, health certificates, and inspection protocols¹.
  • Maintains alignment with OIE standards¹.
• Comment Process:
  • Stakeholders may submit feedback to the MOCCAE SPS Enquiry Point (`uaesps@moccae.gov.ae`) by 24 December 2024¹.

2. Compliance Requirements for Importers

A. Health Certificates

• Mandatory for All Shipments: Exporting countries must issue updated health certificates complying with UAE requirements².
• Content: Certificates must attest to:
  • Disease-free status of the animal/product (e.g., no contagious diseases listed by the OIE).
  • Origin traceability (e.g., farm of origin, slaughterhouse details for products).
  • Sanitary treatment (e.g., heat treatment for by-products)^{1, 2}.
• Deadline for Compliance: Original deadline was 2 September 2019 (one year post-publication of Decree No. 335/2018)². The revised resolution may extend or modify this¹.

B. Import Permits

• Pre-Approval Required: Importers must obtain a permit from MOCCAE prior to shipment¹.
• Application Process:
  1. Submit an application via MOCCAE’s SPS Enquiry Point (`uaesps@moccae.gov.ae`).
  2. Provide supporting documents, including:
• Health certificate (from exporting country’s competent authority).
• Commercial invoice and packing list.
• Veterinary inspection report (for live animals)¹.

C. Inspection and Clearance

• Port of Entry Controls:
  • All shipments are subject to physical inspection by MOCCAE or designated authorities².
  • Non-compliant shipments may be rejected, destroyed, or returned at the importer’s expense¹.
• Quarantine Measures:
  • Live animals may be placed in quarantine facilities for observation (duration depends on risk assessment)².

D. Prohibited Items

• The regulations do not explicitly list prohibited items in the provided sources, but the following are likely restricted based on SPS principles:
  • Animals/products from countries with endemic diseases (e.g., foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza).
  • Unprocessed by-products without sanitary treatment (e.g., raw hides, untreated bones)^{1, 2}.

3. Timeline of Key Deadlines

4. Enforcement and Penalties

• Non-Compliance Consequences:
  • Rejection of shipment at port of entry¹.
  • Destruction or return of goods (costs borne by the importer)².
  • Suspension of import privileges for repeat violations¹.
• Appeals: Not specified in the sources; importers may contact MOCCAE for clarification.

5. Contact Points for Compliance

Summary Answer

The UAE regulates the import of live animals, animal products, and by-products (including HS codes 010110 and 051199) under Ministerial Decree No. 335 of 2018 and its draft revision, enforced by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE). Key requirements include updated health certificates (aligned with OIE standards), pre-shipment import permits, and port-of-entry inspections^{1, 2}. Exporting countries were required to amend health certificates by 2 September 2019, while the revised resolution (open for comments until 24 December 2024) may introduce additional controls^{1, 2}. Non-compliant shipments face rejection, destruction, or return¹. Importers must engage with MOCCAE’s SPS Enquiry Point (`uaesps@moccae.gov.ae`) for permits and guidance¹.

Sources

1. ↩ Ministerial resolution to revise the regulation of importing living animals, their products, and by-products, amending Ministerial Resolution No. 335 of 2018 _notification https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/SPS/NARE284.DOCX
2. ↩ The ministerial decree concerning the regulation of the import of Live animals, their products and by-products _notification https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/SPS/NARE112A1.DOCX