Abu Dhabi returned over 2,464 tonnes of foodstuffs for non-compliance with specifications

Emadeddin Khalil, Staff Reporter

The total quantity of food imports accepted and allowed to enter the markets of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi through air, sea and land ports during the past year (2023) amounted to approximately 1.5m tonnes.

This figure was arrived at following verification of the safety of the imports and their compliance with the relevant food safety standards and requirements.

The latest statistics from the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority indicate that a total of 2,464.52 tonnes of food was returned to exporting countries, while 158,920 kilogrammes of food was rejected at the border due to non-compliance with specifications.

A total of 68% of food imports were accepted through land ports over the past year, while 29% were accepted through sea ports and 3% through air ports.

The Authority indicated that the total number of food shipments arriving through the ports of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi amounted to 72,959 shipments.

Of these, 61,127 (84%) arrived through land ports, while 8,831 (12%) arrived through air ports.

The remaining 3,001 shipments (4%) arrived through sea ports.
ADAFSA is committed to enhancing its border control procedures with the objective of guaranteeing the safety of all food consignments entering Abu Dhabi and ensuring their compliance with its approved food conditions and standards, which are aligned with international norms.

Furthermore, the Authority is committed to implementing an imported food control system that is based on the degree of health risk, with the objective of ensuring the health and safety of food items arriving from abroad.

This approach is designed to prevent the entry of prohibited food items or those that may pose a risk to the health and safety of the consumer or threaten public health.

It is the duty of the Authority to ensure that food shipments arriving at border crossings comply with the requisite standards and specifications for the entry of food products derived from international standards.

The Authority confirms that there are several reasons for the rejection or destruction of food products, including the unsuitability of the food products for human consumption, the non-compliance of the food products with the specifications and standards of the UAE, and the lack of health documentation for the shipment.

ADAFSA has also confirmed that all food shipments arriving through Abu Dhabi's land, sea, air and transit ports are subject to rigorous procedures designed to guarantee their safety. These procedures entail a visual inspection of the shipments, coupled with the requisite laboratory tests to verify their compliance with approved specifications and standards.

These procedures are conducted in an efficient and effective manner to ensure the stability of food supplies and achieve the highest levels of food safety, thereby promoting the well-being and safety of the Abu Dhabi community.