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Selling pet food in the UAE

In Dubai, pet food sold by pet food establishments must be registered with Dubai Municipality's Veterinary Services Section. Shipments carry a government health certificate, embassy-attested if the authorities ask, and labels give the target species, feed analysis, dates, ingredients and the words "animal food – not fit for human consumption". Pet and human food are kept apart.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Regulator (Dubai)
Dubai Municipality, Veterinary Services Section
Guideline
DM-PHSD-VCS-TGL-14, version 3.0, 19 February 2024
Registration
Pet foods registered with the Veterinary Services Section
Import papers
Health certificate, certificate of origin, invoice, contents list
Label warning
Animal food – not fit for human consumption

Before a product goes on sale

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Is each pet food registered with Dubai Municipality's Veterinary Services Section? Read more
  2. 2Does each shipment carry a government health certificate and certificate of origin? Read more
  3. 3Does the label carry the species, analysis, dates, ingredients and feeding directions? Read more
  4. 4Is pet food stored apart from food for people? Read more
  5. 5Do you keep the records that trace each feed back and forward? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Registration and establishment

Dubai Municipality's requirements for businesses selling pet food.

  • Dubai Municipality's Veterinary Services Section protects animal health and welfare in Dubai and monitors and certifies veterinary establishments and animal businesses; its requirements documents are published in Arabic.
  • Its technical and health requirements for pet food establishments (إرشادات عمل الاشتراطات الفنية والصحية الخاصة بمؤسسات بيع أغذية الحيوانات الأليفة) require all foods to be registered with the Veterinary Services Section.
  • Foods and supplements on sale are within their validity, in conforming packaging and free of visible defects.
  • Establishments follow federal and local laws and decisions, and hold the approvals of the relevant authorities for their location.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps each pet food's registration with the product, dated, and shows which products are on sale without one. Ask about this

Import documents

What a pet food shipment into Dubai carries.

  • Shipments carry an original health certificate from a government body, attested by the UAE embassy, or another Arab embassy where there is none, when the authorities ask.
  • They also carry a certificate of origin, the shipping invoice and a list of the shipment's contents.
  • Dubai Municipality may ask for more information or take samples for analysis.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the health certificate, certificate of origin and invoice for each shipment with its lot, and shows what is missing before arrival. Ask about this

Labelling

What a pet food label shows.

  • The name and address of the manufacturer and/or importer, the animal species it is for, and the net weight.
  • An analysis of the feed, as percentages of crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, ash and moisture.
  • The production and expiry dates (day, month, year), the ingredients, and feeding directions with quantity and method.
  • The words "animal food – not fit for human consumption", clearly on the label fixed to the bag or package.
  • Liquid feeds supplied in bulk come with a certificate carrying the same information.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your pet food label against these particulars and keeps the reading with each label version. Ask about this

Storage and premises

How pet food is kept in the shop and store.

  • Animal food and food for people are never kept together in one place, and a sign is posted where needed.
  • Feed is supplied in bags or packages that meet the requirements; bulk liquid feed is allowed on conditions the municipality sets.
  • Damaged and expired products are destroyed, with proof of destruction from the relevant authority.

How we help: Compliant Always records the expiry date of each lot, so out-of-date stock shows before an inspector finds it. Ask about this

Records and traceability

The documents an establishment keeps.

  • A valid trade licence and the establishment's inspection card.
  • Customs declarations for incoming shipments, with release signed, and copies of the health certificate and certificate of origin.
  • Purchase invoices for feed made or bought locally, and customer lists and sales invoices so feed can be traced.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps these records with each product and lot, so a question from an inspector or a customer is answered from the record. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
ImporterThe attested health certificate, certificate of origin and shipment papers.Shipment documents read and dated before the goods leave origin.
Pet food establishmentRegistration of the foods it sells, storage apart from human food, and records.Registrations, expiry dates and records kept in one place.
ManufacturerThe analysis, ingredients, dates and feeding directions on the label.Label particulars read against the requirements before printing.

Emirates

This guide is drawn from Dubai Municipality's requirements for pet food establishments. The federal pages for animal feed could not be read for this guide, so the rules in other emirates are not covered here.

Questions businesses ask

Do I need to register pet food in Dubai?
Yes. Dubai Municipality's requirements for pet food establishments say all foods must be registered with its Veterinary Services Section.
What documents does a pet food shipment into Dubai need?
An original government health certificate, attested by the UAE embassy (or another Arab embassy where there is none) if the authorities ask, a certificate of origin, the shipping invoice and a list of the shipment's contents.
What must a pet food label show in Dubai?
The manufacturer and/or importer, target species, net weight, analysis of protein, fat, fibre, ash and moisture, production and expiry dates, ingredients, feeding directions, and "animal food – not fit for human consumption".
Can pet food be stored with human food in Dubai?
No. Dubai Municipality's requirements prohibit keeping animal food and food for people together in one place.
Can pet food be sold in bulk in Dubai?
Feed is supplied in bags or packages, with bulk liquid feed allowed on conditions the municipality sets and accompanied by a certificate with the label information.
What records must a pet food shop in Dubai keep?
Its trade licence and inspection card, customs declarations, copies of health certificates and certificates of origin, purchase invoices, and customer lists and sales invoices for traceability.
What happens to expired pet food in Dubai?
Damaged and expired products are destroyed, with proof of destruction from the relevant authority.
Who regulates pet food in Dubai?
Dubai Municipality's Veterinary Services Section, which protects animal health and welfare in Dubai and monitors and certifies animal businesses.
How does Compliant Always help with selling in the UAE?
Our team reads the rules for the markets you sell in, including the federal schemes and the emirate-level registrations. Compliant Always shows which apply to your product, keeps the documents behind each one ready, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in the UAE and what your paperwork needs to show.

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