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United Arab Emirates

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Export - 5/19/2023, AE-151

Export Requirements

Last update May 19, 2023

  1. Fresh/frozen meat and meat products.
    1. Beef and beef products.
    2. Veal and veal products.
    3. Lamb, mutton and goat meat and products.
    4. 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).
    5. Bison and bison products. 
  2. Fresh/frozen poultry and poultry products except as indicated in Ineligible  Products section below. Effective May 26, 2016, fresh/frozen poultry and poultry products originating from the State of Indiana are eligible.

  1. Poultry and poultry products, except thermally processed products, originating from the following zones are ineligible:
    1. Alaska
      1. Matanuska-Susitna County shipped on or after October 5, 2022. 
    2. Arkansas
      1. Madison County shipped between October 7, 2022 and March 3, 2023. 
    3. California

      1. Del Norte County shipped between October 4, 2022 and January 29, 2023; 

      2. Fresno County shipped on or after August 22, 2022;
      3. Glenn County shipped on or after December 22, 2022; 

      4. Merced County shipped on or after February 6, 2023; 

      5. Monterey County shipped between October 4, 2022 and February 2, 2023;  

      6. Sacramento County shipped between August 30, 2022 and January 26, 2023; 
      7. San Diego County shipped on or after November 3, 2022; 

      8. Stanislaus County shipped between October 3, 2022 and April 30, 2023; 

      9. Tehama County shipped between January 12, 2023 and April 27, 2023; and 

      10. Tuolumne County shipped between August 26, 2022 and February 12, 2023.
    4. Colorado
      1. Boulder County shipped between October 7, 2022 and May 9, 2023; *

      2. Jefferson County shipped between October 20, 2022 and May 17,2023; *

      3. LaPlata County shipped between April 19, 2022 and December 14, 2022;
      4. Montrose County shipped between April 19, 2022 and November 26, 2022;
      5. Pitkin County shipped between April 8, 2022 and December 5, 2022; 
      6. Prowers County shipped on or after December 9, 2022; 

      7. Weld County shipped on or after April 29, 2022; and

      8. Yuma County on or after March 28, 2023. 

    5. Delaware
      1. Kent County shipped between March 17, 2022 and July 28, 2022; and 
      2. New Castle County shipped between February 22, 2022 and August 27, 2022. 
    6. Florida

      1. Broward County shipped on or after October 14, 2022;

      2. Hillsborough County shipped on or after March 21, 2023; 

      3. Indian River County shipped on or after October 25 2022;

      4. Miami-Dade County shipped on or after February 28, 2023; and 

      5. Seminole County shipped on or after November 16, 2022. 

    7. Idaho

      1. Ada County shipped between May 10, 2022 and January 22, 2023; 

      2. Canyon County shipped between May 9, 2022 and January 22, 2023; 

      3. Gooding County shipped on or after April 14, 2022; and
      4. Madison County shipped between April 20, 2022 and December 9, 2022.
    8. Illinois

      1. Grundy County shipped on or after November 30, 2022; and

      2. Wayne County shipped on or after February 24, 2023. 

    9. Indiana

      1. Allen County shipped between June 7, 2022 and September 22, 2022; 

      2. Daviess County shipped on or after December 13, 2022; 

      3. Dubois County shipped between February 8, 2022 and August 17, 2022; 
      4. Elkhart County shipped between April 8, 2022 and April 29, 2023; and 
      5. Greene County shipped between February 23, 2022 and August 3, 2022. 
    10. Iowa
      1. Bremer County shipped between April 21, 2022 and October 6, 2022;  
      2. Buena Vista County shipped between March 6, 2022 and August 26, 2022, and on or after December 5, 2022; 
      3. Cherokee County shipped between March 31, 2022 and September 23, 2022, and between December 7, 2022 and May 11, 2023; *
      4. Franklin County shipped between March 25, 2022 and July 27, 2022; 
      5. Guthrie County shipped between March 28, 2022 and August 27, 2022; 
      6. Hamilton County shipped between March 28, 2022 and July 28, 2022; 
      7. Hardin County shipped between April 5, 2022 and September 23, 2022;
      8. Humboldt County shipped between April 2, 2022 and August 1, 2022; 
      9. Ida County shipped between December 12, 2022 and May 15, 2023; *
      10. Osceola County shipped between March 31, 2022 and August 25, 2022; 
      11. Sac County shipped between April 2, 2022 and August 23, 2022, and on or after December 7, 2022; 
      12. Taylor County shipped between March 10, 2022 and August 6, 2022; and
      13. Wright County shipped between October 31, 2022 and April 1, 2023. 
    11. Kansas
      1.  Anderson County shipped between January 4, 2023 and May 17, 2023; *
      2. Dickinson County shipped between March 18, 2022 and November 23, 2022;
      3. Franklin County shipped between March 11, 2022 and November 9, 2022; 
      4. Johnson County shipped on or after October 7, 2022;
      5. McPherson County shipped between April 13, 2022 and October 7, 2022; 
      6. Mitchell County shipped on or after January 17, 2023; 
      7. Neosho County shipped between October 7, 2022 and May 4, 2023; *

      8. Republic County shipped between April 27, 2022 and December 27, 2022; and

      9. Shawnee County shipped between October 19, 2022 and January 20, 2023. 

    12. Kentucky

      1. Fayette County shipped between October 6, 2022 and January 8, 2023; 

      2. Fulton County shipped between February 12, 2022 and July 10, 2022; and 

      3. Webster County shipped between February 15, 2022 and July 16, 2022. 

    13. Maine
      1. Cumberland County shipped between March 22, 2022 and November 21, 2022.
    14. Maryland
      1. Cecil County shipped between March 4, 2022 and October 19, 2022; 
      2. Queen Anne’s County shipped between March 8, 2022 and August 8, 2022; and
      3. Washington County shipped between November 29, 2022 and March 20, 2023.  
    15. Michigan
      1. Ingham County shipped between September 13, 2022 and May 17, 2023; *
      2. Lapeer County shipped on or after October 5, 2022; 
      3. Menominee County shipped between April 13, 2022 and December 13, 2022;

      4. Muskegon County shipped between May 10, 2022 and October 5, 2022; 

      5. Tuscola County shipped on or after October 3, 2022; and

      6. Wexford County shipped between April 28, 2022 and December 30, 2022.

    16. Minnesota
      1. Becker County shipped between April 3, 2022 and January 31, 2023; 
      2. Big Stone County shipped between April 5, 2022 and August 7, 2022; 
      3. Blue Earth County shipped between April 13, 2022 and August 27, 2022;
      4. Brown County shipped between September 13, 2022 and January 24, 2023; 

      5. Chisago County shipped between May 11, 2022 and January 8, 2023; 

      6. Crow Wing County shipped between May 10, 2022 and January 6, 2023; 

      7. Dakota County shipped between May 21, 2022 and September 14, 2022; 

      8. Dodge County shipped between April 3, 2022 and August 29, 2022, and between December 8, 2022 and April 11, 2023;  
      9. Kandiyohi County shipped between March 29, 2022 and October 29, 2022;
      10. Lac Qui Parle County shipped between March 29, 2022 and September 2, 2022; 
      11. Le Sueur County shipped between April 3, 2022 and August 28, 2022 between October 27, 2022 and March 2, 2023;  

      12. Lyon County shipped between May 3, 2022 and September 27, 2022;

      13. Meeker County shipped between March 25, 2022 and January 31, 2023; 
      14. Morrison County shipped between March 31, 2022 and January 30, 2023; 
      15. Otter Tail County shipped between April 8, 2022 and March 30, 2023;
      16. Renville County shipped between April 8, 2022 and September 7, 2022; 

      17. Roseau County shipped between September 21, 2022 and April 20, 2023; 

      18. Stearns County shipped between March 26, 2022 and March 2, 2023;
      19. Swift County shipped between April 9, 2022 and March 28, 2023;
      20. Todd County shipped between April 19, 2022 and September 18, 2022 and on or after November 23, 2022; 
      21. Wadena County shipped between December 12, 2022 and April 13, 2023; 
      22. Waseca County shipped between April 5, 2022 and September 3, 2022; and 
      23. Yellow Medicine County shipped between April 12, 2022 and September 25, 2022.
    17. Mississippi
      1. Copiah County shipped on or after February 17, 2023; 
      2. Lawrence County shipped between November 4, 2022 and March 7, 2023; and
      3. Leake County shipped on or after February 7, 2023. 
    18. Missouri
      1. Dade County shipped between April 6, 2022 and August 19, 2022; 
      2. Jasper County shipped between March 8, 2022 and September 1, 2022; 
      3. Lawrence County shipped between March 9, 2022 and September 23, 2022; 
      4. Osage County shipped on or after between December 9, 2022 and April 21, 2023; 
      5. Stoddard County shipped between March 4, 2022 and September 21, 2022; and
      6. Webster County shipped on or after November 22, 2022. 
    19. Montana
      1. Cascade County shipped between April 7, 2022 and August 4, 2022; 
      2. Glacier County shipped between April 20, 2022 and August 24, 2022; 
      3. Granite County shipped on or after November 1, 2022; and 
      4. Teton County shipped between September 15, 2022 and December 21, 2022. 
    20. Nebraska
      1. Butler County shipped between March 22, 2022 and September 2, 2022; 
      2. Dixon County shipped between April 12, 2022 and August 23, 2022 between November 25, 2022 and April 10, 2023;
      3. Knox County shipped between April 27, 2022 and September 7, 2022, and on or after December 14, 2022; 
      4. Lincoln County shipped on or after February 21, 2023; and 

      5. York County shipped on or after October 4, 2022. 

    21. Nevada

      1. Nye County shipped on or after October 17, 2022.

    22. New Hampshire

      1. Merrimack County shipped on or after September 23, 2022. 

    23. New Jersey 

      1. Monmouth County shipped between May 17, 2022 and January 16, 2023. 

    24. New York

      1. Columbia County Shipped on or after February 15, 2023; 

      2. Kings County shipped on or after April 18, 2023; 

      3. Monroe County shipped between March 29, 2022 and November 30, 2022; 

      4. Orleans County shipped between April 5, 2022 and December 6, 2022;  

      5. Putnam County shipped on or after April 12, 2023; 

      6. Queens County, NY shipped on or after April 5, 2022; 

      7. Suffolk County shipped between March 23, 2022 and November 26, 2022; and 
      8. Tompkins County shipped on or after March 22, 2023. 
    25. North Carolina
      1. Johnston County shipped between March 29, 2022 and September 26, 2022; and 
      2. Wayne County shipped between April 2, 2022 and October 12, 2022.
    26. North Dakota
      1. Barnes County shipped between April 13, 2022 and December 10, 2022; 
      2. Bottineau County shipped on or after November 3, 2022; 
      3. Dickey County shipped between March 31, 2022 and November 30, 2022 and on or after April 19, 2023; 
      4. Kidder County shipped between March 29, 2022 and December 6, 2022; 
      5. LaMoure County shipped between April 2, 2022 and September 5, 2022; 
      6. McHenry County shipped between June 6, 2022 and February 7, 2023; 
      7. Ransom County shipped between September 27, 2022 and January 28, 2023;  
      8. Richland County shipped between April 21, 2022 and December 25, 2022; 
      9. Stutsman County shipped between April 8, 2022 and December 16, 2022; and 

      10. Ward County shipped on or after September 22, 2022. 

    27. Ohio
      1. Butler County shipped on or after November 7, 2022; and 
      2. Defiance County shipped between September 3, 2022 and January 29, 2023. 
    28. Oklahoma
      1. Sequoyah County shipped between April 30, 2022 and August 11, 2022. 
    29. Oregon

      1. Deschutes County shipped between July 12, 2022 and March 17, 2023; *

      2. Lane County shipped between May 17, 2022 and January 15, 2023; and *
      3. Yamhill County shipped on or after November 3, 2022. 
    30. Pennsylvania

      1. Adams County shipped between October 11, 2022 and April 4, 2023;

      2. Berks County shipped between May 3, 2022 and October 10, 2022; 

      3. Bucks County shipped on or after March 6, 2023;

      4. Chester County shipped on or after February 24, 2023; 

      5. Lancaster County shipped between April 15, 2022 and November 28, 2022 and on or after February 1, 2023; 
      6. Lehigh County shipped between November 3, 2022 and May 18, 2023; *

      7. Northampton County shipped between August 11, 2022 and January 11, 2023; 

      8. Northumberland County shipped on or after March 3, 2023; 

      9. Washington County shipped between September 20, 2022 and before December 26, 2022; and

      10. York County shipped between September 29, 2022 and February 18, 2023. 

    31. South Carolina
      1. The State of South Carolina shipped between April 8, 2020 and August 5, 2020.
    32. South Dakota
      1. Beadle County shipped between March 22, 2022 and August 20, 2022 and between October 12, 2022 and March 12, 2023 and on or after April 19, 2023; 
      2. Bon Homme County shipped between March 29, 2022 and July 29, 2022;
      3. Brule County shipped between March 30, 2022 and August 1, 2022 and between October 6, 2022 and January 7, 2023; 
      4. Charles Mix County shipped between March 5, 2022 and July 16, 2022 and between November 30, 2022 and March 18, 2023;
      5. Clark County shipped between March 27, 2022 and August 25, 2022 between September 20, 2022 and March 22, 2023; 

      6. Codington County shipped on or after May 19, 2022; 

      7. Day County shipped on or after May 4, 2022;

      8. Deuel County shipped between April 13, 2022 and July 25, 2022; 
      9. Edmunds County shipped between March 23, 2022 and October 8, 2022 and between November 21, 2022 and February 25, 2023; 
      10. Faulk County shipped between April 5, 2022 and August 1, 2022 and between November 23, 2022 and March 9, 2023;  
      11. Gregory County shipped on or after October 11, 2022;
      12. Hamlin County shipped on or after November 29, 2022; 
      13. Hanson County shipped between March 18, 2022 and August 7, 2022 and between November 29, 2022 and April 30, 2023; 
      14. Hutchinson County shipped between March 20, 2022 and August 3, 2022;

      15. Jerauld County shipped between March 24, 2022 and July 5, 2022; 

      16. Kingsbury County shipped between March 18, 2022 and July 19, 2022; 

      17. Lake County shipped between April 2, 2022 and August 7, 2022 and between December 1, 2022 and April 7, 2023;  
      18. McPherson County shipped between March 27, 2022 and September 9, 2022 and between September 24, 2022 and January 14, 2023; 
      19. Moody County shipped between December 14, 2022 and April 12, 2023; 
      20. Roberts County shipped between October 19, 2022 and February 23, 2023;
      21. Spink County shipped between March 29, 2022 and August 14, 2022 and on or after November 25, 2022; and 
      22. Yankton County shipped between April 9, 2022 and July 28, 2022. 
    33. Tennessee
      1. Bledsoe County, TN shipped between November 15, 2022 and March 22, 2023;  
      2. Obion County shipped between September 15, 2022 and December 19, 20222; and 
      3. Weakley County shipped on or after December 14, 2022. 
    34. Texas
      1. Erath County shipped between April 2, 2022 and July 21, 2022; and
      2. Lampasas County shipped between January 18, 2023 and April 21, 2023. 
    35. Utah 
      1. Cache County shipped between April 25, 2022 and September 15, 2022; 
      2. Iron County shipped on or after November 28, 2022; and 

      3. Sanpete County shipped between July 14, 2022 and March 23, 2023. 

    36. Virginia 
      1. Alexandria City shipped on or after February 23, 2023; and 
      2. Rockingham County shipped on or after January 19, 2023. 
    37. Washington 
      1. Franklin County shipped between December 14, 2022 and May 7, 2023; *
      2. King County shipped between June 7, 2022 and February 28, 2023; 
      3. Pacific County shipped between May 5, 2022 and January 3, 2023; and 

      4. Snohomish County shipped on or after July 18, 2022. 

    38. Wisconsin 
      1. Barron County shipped between April 12, 2022 and October 6, 2022;
      2. Dunn County shipped between September 29, 2022 and February 4, 2023;  
      3. Jefferson County shipped between March 14, 2022 and August 25, 2022; and on or after November 7, 2022; 
      4. Polk County shipped between April 15, 2022 and September 6, 2022;
      5. Racine County shipped between April 7, 2022 and March 2, 2023; and
      6. Washington County shipped between September 2, 2022 and April 30, 2023. 
    Note: Thermal processing means poultry products that were heat-treated to a core temperature of 70°C for at least 3.6 seconds or 74°C for at least 1 (one) second.

  1. 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. "
  2. 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):
    1. Production (slaughtering or freezing) and expiration dates.
      1. 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.
      2. The expiration date must be calculated from the date the product was packed.
      3. The UAE permits expiration dates on bagged poultry to be printed on adhesive tape wrapped around metal clip area.
    2. 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.)
    3. 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).
    4. Country of origin.
    5. Metric net weight labeling is required.
    6. Alcoholic materials and species of animal fats, gelatin, food additives and blood must be declared on label when product contains such materials.
  3. The following methods of labeling are alternatives to meeting the requirements for labeling packaged fresh/frozen meat and poultry:
    1. 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.
    2. Inserts, if used, must be accompanied by production and expiration dates. Inserts must be made of approved materials.
  4. Canned Goods - Expiration and production dates must be preprinted on the labels or on the bottom of the cans.
  5. 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".

All FSIS export certificates accompanying the product must be signed by an FSIS veterinarian. PHIS will add “DVM” to the digital signature.

  1. For all poultry and poultry products, except thermally treated products, the export applicant must select the following statement when completing the export application in PHIS. PHIS will add this statement to FSIS Form 9060-5B:

    "The poultry from which the products were derived originate from a county that is free of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza as defined by the OIE for the previous 3 months."
  2. "Samples for display at the Gulfood Show" should be indicated on the product cartons and the statement selected by the export applicant when completing the export application in PHIS. PHIS will add this statement to the FSIS Form 9060-5B.

  1. 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.

  1. Expiration Period
    1. 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.
    2. Chilled vacuum-packed meat/poultry has an expiration period of 3 months.
    3. 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.

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.
 

The following is presented only 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. The exporter must obtain a Certificate of Islamic Slaughter 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 Muslim religious requirements and must accompany all shipments.

All questions regarding Halal certification should be directed to the points of contact provided below:

Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology
Website: http://halal.ae/en-us
Email:  halal@esma.gov.ae
Phone: +971 600 565554

Dubai Municipality
Food Safety Department
Email: info@dm.gov.ae
Phone: +971 4 2064205 or +971 4 2064280

Ritual: Islamic Halal Slaughter requirements apply.

  1. 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 Muslim religious requirements. The certificate must accompany products labeled "Halal".
  2. Halal certification will be required for the following products:
    1. 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.
    2. On processed products with Halal label claims, raw materials used must be accompanied by an appropriate Halal certificate.
Last Updated: May 19, 2023