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| Export Requirements for United Arab Emirates |
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UA-35 (Feb 1, 2013)
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Eligible/Ineligible Products
- Eligible Products
- Fresh/frozen meat and meat products.
- Beef and beef products. The Export Verification (EV) program for beef to
the United Arab Emirates is no longer required.
- Veal and veal products.
- Pork and pork products. Halal certification is not required for pork and
pork products. However, general labeling requirements, including production
and expiration dates, apply (see Labeling Requirements below).
- Fresh/frozen poultry and poultry products.
Labeling Requirements
- All products - Storage temperature must be placed with the
refrigeration statement on the label to fully clarify the type of product
being handled. (Example: "Keep frozen - store at or below ___
degree C; Keep chilled (or refrigerated) - store between ___ degree C
and ____ degree C. "
- Fresh/frozen meat and poultry. In addition to the labeling features
mandatory in the United States, precut and packaged meat and poultry must
include the following features (in print):
- Production (slaughtering or freezing) and expiration dates.
- Date format requirements for UAE must conform to the
following: Day/Month/Year for products with a shelf life of three
(3) months or less. For products with a shelf life of more than
three (3) months, both the Day/Month/Year and Month/Year formats
are acceptable.
- The expiration date must be calculated from the date the
product was frozen.
- Exception: The UAE permits expiration dates on bagged
poultry to be printed on adhesive tape wrapped around metal
clip area.
- Statement that product has been slaughtered according to Islamic
principles. (Note: The UAE does not require reference to Islamic
slaughter on consumer packages, but exporters should be aware that such
product would have limited distribution.)
- Shelf life of Product. Shelf life limits have been determined for chilled vacuum
packaged meat, and fresh and chilled other meat/poultry products. Fast
spoiling foods with a shelf-life not exceeding 3 months must have complete
date stated on the label (day/month/year).
- Country of origin.
- Metric net weight labeling is required.
- Alcoholic materials and species of animal fats, gelatin, food additives
and blood must be declared on label when product contains such materials.
- The following methods of labeling are alternatives to meeting the requirements
for labeling packaged fresh/frozen meat and poultry:
- Arabic sticker may be used but must not obliterate label terminology and be
self-destructive on removal. Stick-on labels covering required label features
are not permitted.
- Inserts, if used, must be accompanied by production and expiration dates.
Inserts must be made of approved materials.
- Canned Goods - Expiration and production dates must be preprinted on the labels or on the bottom
of the cans.
- Meat and poultry products exclusively for display at the USA Pavilion at the Gulfood Show are
not required to fully comply with UAE labeling requirements. However, these products are required
to be clearly marked as "SAMPLES FOR THE GULFOOD SHOW, not for commercial sale".
Certification Requirements
- Obtain FSIS Form 9060-5. All FSIS Form 9060-5 certificates must be
dated and have the signature and title of an FSIS veterinarian.
For all poultry and poultry products, the following statement must be included
in the Remarks section of FSIS 9060-5: "There have been no outbreaks
of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1 subtype) involving commercial
poultry in the zone of origin in the 3 months prior to slaughter."
- "Samples for display at the Gulfood Show" should be indicated on the product cartons and in the Remarks
section of FSIS 9060-5.
Handling/Storage Requirements
- The United Arab Emirates requires that instructions for consumers
concerning storage, preparation and other special handling requirements
accompany all shipments. These instructions should be addressed to the
UAE Municipality.
Note to Exporter
- Expiration Period
- The United Arab Emirates, as per revised and updated Gulf Standard 150/2007 for
Shelf Life Standard, recommends 12 months shelf life for frozen meat and poultry.
- Chilled vacuum-packed meat/poultry has an expiration period of 3 months.
- The shelf-life (expiration period) for other meat/poultry is defined by the
product. Please consult the importer for the recommended shelf life of product
ordered.
Plants Eligible to Export
All Federally inspected establishments are eligible to export to the UAE.
If products are to be labeled "HALAL", the plant must be able
to accommodate the Islamic requirements.
Islamic Slaughter Certification
The following is presented as information for the exporter. FSIS is not responsible for certifying that
products intended for export to Muslim countries meet appropriate requirements for religious slaughter.
Slaughter Requirements
Ritual: Islamic Halal Slaughter requirements apply.
- Ritual Slaughter - Islamic Slaughter Certification, in addition to FSIS certification, is required.
The exporter must obtain a Certificate of Islamic (Halal) Slaughter from a member of an Islamic Center or
Islamic organization. A certificate of Islamic Slaughter is a certificate issued by a member of a Muslim
organization recognized by the importing country to provide this service; the certificate states that animals
were slaughtered according to Moslem religious requirements. The certificate must accompany products
labeled "Halal." The certificate must be endorsed by the United Arab Emirates Embassy or Consulate.
The contact information for accredited Islamic Centers and Islamic Organizations is listed below.
- Halal certification will be required for the following products:
- On fresh/frozen unprocessed product, Halal label claims must be
accompanied by an appropriate Halal certificate or a written assurance
from the exporter that an appropriate Halal certificate will be supplied to
accompany that shipment before it reaches its destination.
- On processed products with Halal label claims, raw materials used must
be accompanied by an appropriate Halal certificate.
Approved Islamic Halal Certifiers in the U.S.
The following U.S.-based Islamic organizations have been
approved as Halal certifiers for exports of meat and foods
containing meat and animal products to the United Arab
Emirates. The UAE typically requires foreign certifiers to
undergo a visit by UAE authorities and a review of
certification procedures and staffing as part of the
approval process. All U.S.-based Islamic Halal certifiers
listed below are approved by the UAE for nationwide
certification.
- Halal Transactions of Omaha*
P.O. Box 4546
Omaha, NE 68104 USA
Tel: (402) 572-6120
Fax: (402) 572-4020
E-mail: hto@halaltransactions.org
Rep: Dr. Ahmed Alabsy
- Islamic Services of America
P.O. Box 521
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406 USA
Tel: (319) 362-0480
Fax: (319) 366-4369
E-mail: islamicservices@isahalal.org
Rep: Timothy M. Hyatt
- International Institute of Islamic Thought
500 Grove Street
Herndon, VA 20170 USA
Tel: (703) 471-1133
Fax: (703) 471-3922
E-mail: barzenji@iiit.org;
iiit@iiit.org
Contact: Dr. Jamal Barzinji, Vice President
- Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America
(IFANCA)
5901 N. Cicero Ave.,
Suite 309 Chicago, IL 60646
HQ: 773-283-3708 (x-224)
Research Ctr: 847 993 0034 (x-203)
Fax: +1-773-283-3973
E-mail: m.chaudry@ifanca.org
Contact: Mr. Muhammad Chaudry
For assistance in locating the nearest UAE Consulate, contact:
The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates
1255 22nd Street, N.W., Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20037
Ph: (202) 955-7999
Fax: (202) 337-7029
UA-35 (Feb 1, 2013)
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