Navigating Food Labeling Regulations for Imported FMCG Products in Dubai

If you’re an importer of FMCG products to Dubai or are associated with the widespread sector at large, you must have heard about the stringent food labeling regulations that are a must. Food labeling is a must for all imported FMCG products in the Emirate, keeping consumer health and safety at the forefront. So, regulatory compliance and informed consumer decisions are a natural offshoot of what these labeling regulations aim to ensure.

At the same time, meeting the specific legal requirements of the UAE is necessary, inclusive of Halal and Arabic language certifications. Consumers can make better dietary decisions based on clear data related to nutritional value, ingredients, and allergens. Labels also enable better market access through higher credibility of the brand and consumer trust alike. Let’s learn more about them below.

Main Aspects of Food Safety Labels & Their Importance

As per the UAE food labeling regulations, here are the main aspects that you need to keep in mind.

• Consumer Safety & Health: Labels provide vital information regarding ingredients, allergens (dairy, peanuts, gluten, etc.), and other possible health risks. Consumers can use them to make better decisions while avoiding any harmful substances alongside.
• Regulatory Compliance: Imported FMCG products should comply with the stringent labeling regulations in the UAE. This compliance should also be co. considered for custom regulations. These include particular requirements for language (Arabic and/or English), storage conditions, and product composition.

Let us now understand the importance of food labeling:

• Better Decision-Making: Consumers depend on labels to understand the nutritional value of a product, including the sugar, protein, and fat content, along with the calories. This helps manage diets better.
• Product Traceability and Identification: Labels clearly show the manufacturer details, product name, importer information, country of origin, and manufacturing or expiry dates for better identification, traceability, and tracking.
• Ethical & Cultural Aspects: Labels often have to reflect the prevailing cultural norms and practices in the UAE, especially with Halal certification being a compulsory requirement for many products.
• Brand Credibility & Trust: Accurate and transparent labeling builds more trust between manufacturers and consumers, thereby boosting the reputation of a brand and overall consumer loyalty.
• Competitiveness & Market Access: Complying with labeling regulations is a must to avoid rejection of your shipments. It ensures a successful entry into the market, helping your products compete better in Dubai.

Tips to Navigate Food Labeling Regulations for Imported FMCG Products

Now that you know about the importance of labeling food products, it is time to take a closer look at how you can navigate these regulations.

• Bilingual Labels: FMCG product labels should showcase details in both Arabic and English, since these are the officially used languages in the region.
• Importer & Manufacturer Details: Your products should include the manufacturer’s address, name, and country of origin. Don’t forget the local distributor or importer details in this case.
• Nutritional Data: You should offer details on the calories, along with the count of protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins.
• Ingredients: All your ingredients should be listed in the descending order of their mass.
• Production & Expiry Dates: These dates should be stated clearly in the International Day-Month-Year format.
• Additives: Make sure the product lists all the food additives and their relevant codes. Check for their permissibility based on the Europa and Codex databases.
• Halal Certification: In case the product has a Halal marking, a valid Halal certificate is needed from a recognized and relevant authority.
• Allergen Information: Your products must highlight any common allergens that are present in them.
• Product Registration: All your products should have registration with the Dubai Municipality via the FIRS online portal.
• Label Approval: Imported food labels should be approved by the UAE authorities before you can use them on your products.
• Laboratory Testing: This may be necessary to confirm the product quality and safety.
• Pre-Expert Stickering: Any vital stickering or labeling should be completed on the original packaging of the product before export. This is not upon entry to the UAE.

Note the consequences of non-compliance carefully in this regard. Unfit or non-compliant products may be rejected outright or destroyed. Some may also be re-exported as well. Fines may also be imposed for violations, based on the severity of non-compliance, while major violations like production/expiry date tampering may lead to automatic import bans. It may also negatively affect your brand name and publicity in this case.

Stay Compliant with Food Labeling Regulations in Dubai

From using advanced food labeling software to comply with regulations to noting all the requirements carefully, there are several steps you can take in this regard. A good option is to work closely with a reputed FMCG distributor in Dubai. It will help you stay on the right side of the regulations while making sure that you have a smooth market entry at the same time.