Exceptions (ship stores)

Export certification is not issued for ships stores as the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021 do not apply. Ships stores are milk and milk products on ships or aircraft for the use of passengers and crew or for the service of the ships or aircraft on a voyage from Australia.

There are no known products that are prohibited for export to this market.

The United Arab Emirates is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The United Arab Emirates, as a member of the GCC countries, adopts Gulf Standard Organisation (GSO) food import regulations. These regulations include standards for labelling, shelf life and microbiological standards.

Refer to Section 4. Operational Requirements and Section 7. Labelling, Shelf life and Shipping Marks for further information about these standards.

Milk and milk products of bovine origin are defined as prescribed goods under the Export Control Act. Production of these products for export is regulated under the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Milk and milk products manufactured from non-bovine species, for example buffalo, goat and sheep, may also need to be regulated through the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021, though this is only required when export registration and health certification from the Department is required by the United Arab Emirates.

We are not aware that the United Arab Emirates has any known additional requirements for the production and export of non-bovine milk and milk products.

Unless technical products and pharmaceutical material are prepared at an establishment that produces milk and milk products for export as food, these products are non prescribed goods. They are not regulated by the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Unless animal food is prepared at an establishment that produces milk and milk products for export as food, these products are non prescribed goods.

In accordance with the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021, animal food must be clearly identified as animal food and not for human consumption. It must also be segregated from and not contaminate milk and milk products that are for human consumption.

The United Arab Emirates has no known additional requirements for Manufacturing Grade milk and milk products that differ from the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Manufacturing Grade products are defined in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

The Department has received clarification of the requirements for the importation of dairy products with respect to melamine into the UAE. Countries that have a ban in place on the importation of dairy products from China may continue to export to the UAE in accordance with previous agreements, and for imports from those countries no additional testing or certification is required.

The United Arab Emirates has no other known additional requirements for microbial sampling of milk and milk products that differ from those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

The United Arab Emirates residue standards

Maximum residue limits (MRLs) or import tolerances for residues of specific agricultural and veterinary chemicals approved for use in Australia may not exist in the United Arab Emirates or may be established at levels lower than those established in Australia. Maximum Limits (MLs) for contaminants may also vary between the United Arab Emirates and Australia.

Food business operators should note that:

• These differences can be interrogated case-by-case by considering the United Arab Emirates standards and the Australian standards.
• Any detection of a residue above the ​United Arab Emirates MRLs/MLs (as applicable) at the border may result in rejection of the consignment.

Note

Importing country residue standards can usually be found via the official webpages of their competent authority. Links to a limited number of export markets and Australia are provided on the DAFF website.

The United Arab Emirates has no known additional requirements for general operations that differ from those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Further information

As a member of the GCC, the United Arab Emirates may adopt the GSO standard on microbiological limits (PDF 200 KB).

Exporters should check requirements with their importer.

The United Arab Emirates has no known additional hygiene requirements that differ from those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Milk and milk products that are prescribed under Australia's export rules

1. are milk or milk products derived from a bovine animal; and
2. are intended to be exported as food.
   

ZD035 dairy health certificate

The ZD035 certificate contains the following attestations:

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:

1. In sound condition.
2. Fit for human consumption.
3. Of Australian origin.

Endorsement 5116

'The animal product(s) herein described, complies/y with the relevant UAE standards and requirements which have been recognised as equivalent to the Australian standards and requirements as prescribed in the UAE/ DAWR Memorandum of Understanding.'

Exporter declaration

Whenever export documentation is obtained, the exporter must provide a declaration stating that all the information provided in the permit is true and complete. They must also state that they are in possession of a declaration of compliance that:

1. applies to the milk and milk products
2. complies with the requirements of the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.
   

Transit certification requirements

Milk and milk products transiting the European Union or the United States may require transit documentation. These certificates are available as additional certificates through the EXDOC system. If the product is transiting the United States, standard certification is required and the exporter should contact the Department for advice on how this certification may be issued. If the product is transiting a European Union member state, see the particular European Union member state regarding the certificate template to select.

For Manufacturing Grade milk and milk products, use the ZD016 certificate as to condition for Manufacturing Grade products.

The ZD016 certificate as to condition contains the following attestations:

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:

1. In sound condition
2. Of Australian origin.
   

The ZD001 certificate as to condition may be issued for technical products and pharmaceutical material.

The ZD001 certificate contains the following attestations:

I certify to the best of my knowledge that the information on this form is true and correct in every particular details and that the product described above is of Australian origin and is acceptable for sale in Australia.

The ZD015 certificate as to condition for stockfood or the E242A declaration and certificate for shipments of inedible animal products can be issued for stockfood made from milk and milk products.

The ZD015 certificate contains the following attestations:

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:

1. In sound condition
2. Of Australian origin.
   

The E242A declaration and certificate contains the following attestations:

It has been declared to me, a duly qualified veterinary surgeon in the employ of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia and I have no reason to doubt the products described above were derived from animals of Australian origin and the products were treated solely within Australia. I further certify that foot-and-mouth disease and rinderpest do not exist in Australia.

It is the responsibility of exporters to determine through their importers if export certification is required for consignments and trade samples that are less than 10 kilograms or 10 litres, as an export permit is not required.

The ZX01 certificate as to dioxin status of Australian dairy products is available on request.

European Union (EU) transit certificates are available for consignments transiting the EU. Refer to the EU documentation requirements for edible products for the reference numbers and attestations in these certificates.

In addition to obtaining an import permit, exporters are required to provide transfer documentation and state that they are in possession of a Declaration of Compliance (refer to Section 6.1 for further details). Exporters must also include the Batch Code in their import permit request.

The Department has received clarification of the requirements for the importation of dairy products with respect to melamine into the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Countries that have a ban in place on the importation of dairy products from China may continue to export to the UAE in accordance with previous agreements, and for imports from those countries no additional testing or certification is required.

Import permit conditions for export of milk and milk products to the United Arab Emirates must be obtained from importers by the consignee prior to export of the milk and milk products.

In addition to the requirements provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) requires certain milk and dairy products to be registered. The mandatory registration system includes milk and dairy products including yoghurt/flavoured yoghurt, trans-fatty acids, raw milk, flavoured milk, leben/flavoured leben, camel milk and goat milk sold in the UAE. An official label confirming product registration — the ECAS Mark of Conformity — must be applied to products before import into the UAE. Some products are exempt from this requirement, notably raw products intended for further processing, products with special medicinal use and infant formula.

The ECAS is administered by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA). To be eligible to register products with ESMA, suppliers must demonstrate compliance to all relevant UAE regulations via a Certificate of Conformity. A Certificate of Conformity is issued by third party certification bodies that have been approved by ESMA. Refer to a list of approved certification bodies (PDF 148 KB).

ESMA has advised the Department that products that are eligible for Australian Government export certification are able to be assessed for a Certificate of Conformity via a document review. A single approval is required for groups of products of the same type (e.g.: yoghurts). After successfully obtaining a Certificate of Conformity, exporters must apply to ESMA for a licence to use the ECAS Mark of Conformity.

The Department understands that imported products that do not bear the ECAS Mark of Conformity are not allowed to be distributed for sale in the UAE. Active market surveillance is in force ensuring products conform with these requirements.

Further information can be obtained by contacting any of the approved certification companies ESMA via customercare@esma.gov.ae

In addition to the requirements provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) requires certain milk and dairy products to be registered. The mandatory registration system includes milk and dairy products including yoghurt/flavoured yoghurt, trans-fatty acids, raw milk, flavoured milk, leben/flavoured leben, camel milk and goat milk sold in the UAE. An official label confirming product registration — the ECAS Mark of Conformity — must be applied to products before import into the UAE. Some products are exempt from this requirement, notably raw products intended for further processing, products with special medicinal use and infant formula.

The ECAS is administered by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA). To be eligible to register products with ESMA, suppliers must demonstrate compliance to all relevant UAE regulations via a Certificate of Conformity. A Certificate of Conformity is issued by third party certification bodies that have been approved by ESMA. Refer to a list of approved certification bodies (PDF 148 KB).

ESMA has advised the Department that products that are eligible for Australian Government export certification are able to be assessed for a Certificate of Conformity via a document review. A single approval is required for groups of products of the same type (e.g.: yoghurts). After successfully obtaining a Certificate of Conformity, exporters must apply to ESMA for a licence to use the ECAS Mark of Conformity.

The Department understands that imported products that do not bear the ECAS Mark of Conformity are not allowed to be distributed for sale in the UAE. Active market surveillance is in force ensuring products conform with these requirements.

Further information can be obtained by contacting any of the approved certification companies ESMA via customercare@esma.gov.ae

The United Arab Emirates has no known specific requirements for shelf life restrictions other than those provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

The United Arab Emirates has no known specific requirements for shipping marks (port marks).

As a member of the GCC, the United Arab Emirates may adopt the GSO standard on labelling of pre-packaged foods and the GSO standard on expiry dates for products.

Exporters should check requirements with their importer.