UAE Rolls Out New Nutrition Standards for Packaged Foods, With Fines Reaching Dh500,000

The United Arab Emirates has introduced a new set of nutritional standards aimed at lowering the amount of sodium, sugar and fat found in a range of packaged food products sold across the country.

The measures form part of a broader national effort to encourage healthier eating habits, improve the nutritional quality of commonly consumed foods and help address obesity and other noncommunicable diseases.

Under the new resolution, manufacturers and importers will be required to progressively reduce specified ingredients in selected food categories. The requirements apply to products made within the UAE as well as those brought into the country from overseas. Companies operating in free zones are also covered by the rules.

The new framework does not require every targeted product to meet the final limits immediately. Instead, businesses have been given phased targets, allowing them time to reformulate products and gradually reduce the specified levels of sodium, processed sugar and fat.

The affected categories include bread, sweetened milk-based beverages, flavoured yoghurt and laban, certain salty snacks and processed cheese.

Companies and food establishments that do not comply with the applicable standards could face administrative action. Depending on the nature and seriousness of the violation, penalties can range from an official warning to fines of between Dh5,000 and Dh500,000.

Authorities may also take stronger enforcement measures in serious cases. These can include shutting down a non-compliant establishment for a period of up to six months. Such a closure can be renewed where applicable. In addition, an establishment’s licence or approval may be cancelled in coordination with the authority responsible for issuing the relevant licence.

New national approach to improving food quality

The Ministry of Health and Prevention said the resolution establishes a national framework for gradually lowering the targeted nutritional components in selected food products.

Rather than introducing a single immediate reduction across all categories, the framework uses staged requirements. This approach is intended to give food manufacturers sufficient time to modify recipes, production processes and product formulations while moving towards the long-term nutritional targets.

The policy is also designed to support consumers by making healthier food choices more accessible as manufacturers reduce excessive amounts of ingredients associated with poor dietary outcomes.

The regulations cover a broad range of activities throughout the food supply chain. These include the production, manufacturing, preparation, processing, packaging, transportation, importation, storage, distribution, serving, display and sale of the products covered by the resolution.

As a result, the requirements are not limited solely to factories. Businesses involved in handling, distributing or selling the specified products may also need to ensure that the products they handle meet the applicable requirements.

Which products are covered?

The resolution identifies specific packaged food categories for phased reductions.

The first category includes leavened and flat bread, sweetened milk drinks, including milk alternatives, sweetened or flavoured yoghurt and laban, and certain salty snack products.

Processed cheese is treated separately and forms the second category under the resolution.

The rules apply to products manufactured locally as well as products imported into the UAE. Businesses located in free zones are also included within the scope of the measures.

However, there is an exemption for products that are produced or imported specifically for direct export or onward export outside the UAE. Such products are not subject to the new requirements unless they are subsequently traded within the country.

This means businesses involved in international supply chains will need to distinguish between products intended exclusively for overseas markets and those that will be placed on the UAE market.

Bread manufacturers face lower sodium, sugar and fat targets

Bread is among the first group of foods affected by the new standards.

For leavened bread, the initial maximum levels have been established at 444 milligrams of sodium, 6 grams of total sugar and 8.4 grams of total fat per 100 grams of product.

These levels are not the final targets. By the final phase, manufacturers will need to bring the maximum levels down to 370 milligrams of sodium, 5 grams of total sugar and 7 grams of total fat per 100 grams.

The requirements are also different for flat bread.

During the first phase, flat bread will be subject to maximum levels of 384 milligrams of sodium, 6 grams of total sugar and 8.4 grams of total fat per 100 grams.

The final targets will reduce those figures to 320 milligrams of sodium, 5 grams of total sugar and 7 grams of total fat per 100 grams.

The staged approach gives manufacturers time to adjust formulations while ultimately requiring them to meet significantly lower limits.

For consumers, the changes are intended to gradually reduce exposure to excessive quantities of sodium, sugar and fat in everyday staple foods.

Sugar limits introduced for milk-based beverages

Sweetened milk drinks are another category targeted by the regulation.

This category includes milk alternatives. Under the first-phase requirements, the total sugar content of these beverages will be limited to 9.6 grams.

That ceiling will subsequently be reduced to 8 grams under the final requirements.

The regulation also establishes separate sugar limits for sweetened or flavoured yoghurt and laban.

For these products, the permitted amount of total sugar will initially be capped at 12 grams. The final limit will then be reduced to 10 grams.

Manufacturers will therefore need to progressively reformulate affected products to bring their sugar content within the prescribed levels.

The inclusion of both conventional milk drinks and milk alternatives means that businesses across a variety of beverage and dairy-related product segments will need to assess their formulations against the new standards.

Salt reduction targets for snacks

The UAE’s new rules also focus on sodium levels in several types of salty snacks.

For salted crackers, the permitted sodium level will be reduced from an initial maximum of 696 milligrams to a final limit of 580 milligrams.

Salted nuts and seeds will also face a lower sodium ceiling. Their maximum level will move from 336 milligrams during the first phase to 280 milligrams under the final target.

Pretzels are subject to a higher sodium threshold because of their product characteristics, but they too will need to undergo a substantial reduction. The first-phase limit is 912 milligrams, which will eventually fall to 760 milligrams.

The regulation also covers extruded snacks and chips made from potatoes, sweet potatoes, vegetables or grains.

For these products, the sodium ceiling will be reduced from 564 milligrams in the first phase to 470 milligrams in the final phase.

The reductions are intended to encourage food manufacturers to reformulate snack products and lower their overall salt content.

Processed cheese subject to separate requirements

Processed cheese has been placed in a separate group under the new framework and follows a different compliance timetable.

For spreadable processed cheese, the sodium limit will initially be set at 864 milligrams. That figure will subsequently fall to 720 milligrams in the final phase.

Other forms of processed cheese will also be required to reduce their sodium levels.

The initial maximum for these products is 1,200 milligrams, while the final limit has been established at 1,000 milligrams.

Because processed cheese forms the second group of regulated products, businesses in this segment have been given a longer period to achieve the initial requirements.

Businesses have different compliance periods

The resolution establishes separate implementation periods for the two groups of products.

Companies dealing with products in the first group — including bread, sweetened milk drinks, flavoured or sweetened yoghurt and laban, as well as the specified salty snacks — will have up to nine months from the date the resolution comes into force to comply with the first-stage limits.

After meeting those initial requirements, businesses will have to continue reducing the relevant ingredients.

All products covered by the resolution must ultimately comply with the final limits by December 31, 2030.

Processed cheese manufacturers and other businesses handling products in the second group have been given a longer initial period.

They will have up to two years and three months from the effective date of the resolution to meet the first-phase requirements.

However, the extended initial period does not alter the final deadline. Processed cheese products must also reach the final prescribed limits by December 31, 2030.

The staggered timetable is intended to give businesses additional time where reformulation may be more technically demanding.

Existing stock can remain on the market temporarily

The resolution also contains transitional provisions covering products already manufactured or imported before the new requirements take effect.

Existing stocks of affected products can continue to be sold for up to one year from the effective date of the resolution.

However, there is another important condition: products can only remain on sale until their expiry date if that date comes earlier.

In other words, businesses cannot rely on the full one-year transitional period if a product reaches its expiry date sooner.

Once the permitted transitional period has ended, products that fail to meet the applicable limits can no longer be traded in the UAE.

This provision gives companies an opportunity to clear existing inventory while preventing non-compliant products from remaining on the market indefinitely.

Companies can request limited exceptions

The new framework also provides a mechanism through which businesses may seek an exception from the first-phase limits in certain circumstances.

An exception may be requested where meeting the initial limit would require a reduction of more than 20 per cent in the established level of a targeted ingredient in a particular product.

The provision applies to products that were manufactured, imported or traded in the UAE before the resolution takes effect.

Businesses seeking such an exception must submit their applications to the Ministry within 30 days of the resolution becoming effective.

The application must be supported by relevant technical information.

Companies will need to provide technical data, registered nutritional labelling information and test results issued by an accredited laboratory.

The purpose of these requirements is to allow authorities to evaluate whether the requested exception is justified and supported by appropriate evidence.

Exceptions do not remove the final obligation

Receiving an exception from the first-phase requirement does not mean that a company is permanently exempt from the nutritional standards.

Businesses granted an exception must still commit to reducing the relevant ingredient by at least 20 per cent during the first-phase period.

More importantly, the exception does not remove the requirement to eventually meet the final maximum limits.

Companies therefore cannot use the exception mechanism to avoid the long-term nutritional targets established by the resolution.

The final compliance deadline also remains unchanged. An approved exception cannot be used to extend the deadline beyond December 31, 2030.

This ensures that the exception mechanism functions as a temporary transition measure rather than a permanent exemption from the new standards.

Enforcement will involve several authorities

Implementation of the resolution will involve federal and local health authorities as well as other relevant government bodies.

These authorities will be responsible for monitoring businesses and checking whether products comply with the prescribed nutritional limits.

Enforcement will take place in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Prevention.

Businesses across the affected parts of the food supply chain will therefore need to review their products, nutritional information, manufacturing processes and compliance procedures.

Companies may also need to work with accredited laboratories and regulatory authorities to verify product composition and demonstrate that their products meet the applicable requirements.

Penalties could reach Dh500,000

The resolution establishes a range of administrative penalties for establishments that fail to comply.

The least severe response may be a warning, while financial penalties can range from Dh5,000 to Dh500,000 depending on the violation and the applicable enforcement provisions.

Authorities also have the ability to impose operational restrictions in more serious cases.

A violating establishment may be ordered to close for up to six months, and the closure can be renewed where the relevant conditions warrant further action.

In addition, authorities may cancel the establishment’s licence or approval in coordination with the appropriate licensing authority.

The range of penalties is intended to encourage businesses to comply with the nutritional standards rather than treating the requirements as optional recommendations.

What the changes mean for food manufacturers

The new rules are expected to require affected manufacturers to examine the recipes and production methods used for a number of commonly consumed food products.

Companies may need to reduce sodium in bread, crackers, nuts, seeds, pretzels, chips and processed cheese.

Manufacturers of sweetened milk drinks, milk alternatives, yoghurt and laban will need to assess the sugar content of their products and make progressive reductions where required.

The regulation may also require changes to ingredient sourcing, recipes, manufacturing processes, nutritional labelling and quality-control procedures.

Because the final targets extend through the end of 2030, businesses will need to consider both their immediate compliance obligations and their longer-term product development strategies.

Companies that make changes gradually may be able to use the phased timetable to reformulate products while maintaining production and supply chains.

A broader public-health objective

The UAE’s new nutritional standards are part of a wider effort to improve dietary patterns and encourage healthier food choices.

High consumption of sodium, sugar and unhealthy levels of dietary fat can contribute to dietary risks associated with various health problems. By setting maximum levels for selected products, authorities are seeking to reduce the amount of these ingredients available in frequently consumed foods.

The approach focuses on changing the composition of food products rather than placing the entire responsibility for healthier diets on consumers.

When manufacturers reformulate products, consumers can potentially reduce their intake of targeted ingredients without having to completely change the products they regularly purchase.

The gradual nature of the programme also allows the industry to adjust to the new requirements over several years.

Rules extend across the food chain

One of the significant features of the resolution is its broad coverage of food-related activities.

The rules apply across multiple stages, beginning with production and manufacturing and extending through preparation, processing and packaging.

They also cover transportation, imports, storage and distribution.

Further stages include serving, displaying and selling the affected products.

This wide scope means compliance is not limited to the manufacturer alone. Businesses involved at different points in the supply chain may have responsibilities under the framework.

Companies will therefore need to understand how the requirements apply to their particular role and ensure that the products they handle comply with the applicable standards.

Export products receive an exemption

Not every product manufactured or imported by a UAE-based business will necessarily be subject to the new limits.

Products specifically manufactured or imported for direct export or onward export outside the UAE are exempt from the requirements.

However, the exemption ends if those products are subsequently traded within the UAE.

This distinction is particularly relevant for manufacturers and importers that serve both domestic and international markets.

Businesses with dual-market operations may need to maintain clear records and supply-chain controls to distinguish products intended exclusively for export from those placed on the UAE market.

The road to the 2030 targets

The resolution establishes December 31, 2030 as the final deadline for the affected products to reach their specified limits.

This means the regulatory programme will unfold over several years rather than requiring all reductions immediately.

For the first group of products, businesses will first have to meet the initial standards within nine months of the resolution taking effect.

They will then continue making reductions until the final limits are achieved by the end of 2030.

The second group, consisting of processed cheese, has a longer period for initial compliance, with businesses given two years and three months to reach the first-stage limits.

Despite the different starting periods, both groups ultimately face the same final deadline.

What consumers can expect

For consumers, the changes could gradually alter the nutritional composition of several everyday packaged foods.

Bread products will be subject to lower sodium, sugar and fat limits.

Sweetened milk drinks will have reduced maximum sugar levels, while yoghurt and laban products will also face tighter sugar requirements.

A range of popular snack products will be required to contain less sodium.

Processed cheese products will likewise face stricter sodium limits.

The changes are designed to take place progressively, meaning consumers may not see every reduction immediately. However, the long-term objective is for products covered by the regulation to meet the final standards by December 2030.

Businesses need to prepare for the new framework

Food businesses affected by the resolution will need to determine which of their products fall within the specified categories and identify the applicable limits.

They will also need to understand whether their products are subject to the first or second compliance group.

Manufacturers may need to conduct nutritional testing, review formulations and update product information.

Businesses seeking an exception will need to act within the 30-day application window and provide the required technical and laboratory documentation.

Companies should also take into account the transitional rules covering products manufactured or imported before the resolution becomes effective.

Existing stocks may continue to be sold for a limited period, but products that remain on the market after the permitted transition period and fail to meet the applicable requirements cannot continue to be traded.

A phased shift towards healthier food products

The UAE’s latest food regulations represent a gradual shift towards tighter nutritional standards for selected packaged foods.

Instead of imposing the final limits immediately, the resolution gives businesses different periods to adjust, depending on the category of food involved.

Bread, milk drinks, yoghurt, laban and selected salty snacks will face their initial requirements within nine months, while processed cheese businesses have a longer initial adjustment period.

The final nutritional targets for all affected categories must be achieved by December 31, 2030.

At the same time, the the programme moves towards its 2030 deadline, manufacturers, importers and other food businesses will need to continue adjusting their products to meet progressively stric resolution gives authorities a broad range of enforcement measures, from warnings and financial penalties to temporary closures and potential licence cancellation.

With fines reaching as much as Dh500,000, businesses will have a strong incentive to ensure that their products comply with the prescribed standards.

For consumers, the policy is intended to make healthier nutritional profiles increasingly common across a range of familiar foods.

For manufacturers and other food-sector businesses, however, the coming years will involve a significant focus on reformulation, testing, labelling, compliance monitoring and supply-chain management.

The UAE’s approach therefore combines mandatory limits, phased implementation, transitional arrangements and enforcement measures to gradually reduce sodium, sugar and fat in targeted food products.

As the programme moves towards its 2030 deadline, manufacturers, importers and other food businesses will need to continue adjusting their products to meet progressively stricter requirements while ensuring that goods sold in the UAE remain compliant with the national standards.