Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 14 May 2018:  The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) organized a training workshop for specialists from the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, to familiarize them with the UAE's guidelines and legislation on the production and transportation of food products of animal origin and on ways to comply with them.

The workshop is in line with the Ministry's strategic plan to promote food safety in the country and its mandate to protect consumers from harmful, contaminated, adulterated food products that do not conform to safety guidelines.

Majd Alherbawi, Director of Food Safety Department at MOCCAE, affirmed that the Ministry is keen to organize initiatives that enhance awareness of the UAE’s guidelines and legislation regarding imported food as outlined in the National Agenda for UAE Vision 2021, and to implement a health system based on the highest international standards, to promote a healthy society and environment in the country.

She noted that these activities also aim to provide consumers with maximum confidence and assurance regarding the safety of food products in the UAE.

They also seek to strengthen the country’s position in the global food trading industry.

'The workshop aimed to raise the awareness of the specialists and train them on legislation, laws and mechanisms to enhance food security and rapid response to any emergency in the UAE and the region, to better manage and organize information related to food and to control incidents detected at any stage of the food chain through effective and comprehensive responses.

We also aim to provide a rapid mechanism for the exchange of information during food-related incidents among relevant stakeholders and concerned authorities in the UAE, thereby ensuring timely action is taken.

Through such efforts, when a food-related incident is detected, both inside and outside the country, we can establish effective links with relevant local, federal, gulf, regional and international networks to achieve favorable outcomes.'

Alherbawi pointed out that the workshop highlighted MOCCAE’s organizational structure, the federal laws and legislation related to food safety, the requirements for accreditation of slaughterhouses outside the UAE and acquiring such accreditation online, and control procedures for imported food through Abu Dhabi and Dubai entry ports.

A visit to Jebel Ali Port and the Flower Center at Dubai Airports was organized to educate the trainees on the mechanisms of applying control procedures on imported food through the country's ports.

The workshop was also attended by representatives from the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) and Dubai Municipality, who highlighted control procedures in each emirate to better organize food products in line with the MOCCAE’s legislative procedures.