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Federal food law to take shape soon

DUBAI - A federal law on food will soon start to take shape to further ensure food safety in the country, disclosed Minister of Environment and Water HE Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahd.

The minister said that the safety of food, produced locally or imported from abroad, constitute an important element of the safety of the community and provides an essential foundation for the food security for all.

The federal law will be prepared in collaboration with strategic partners of the Ministry in the area of food safety including local government bodies and the private sector.

He noted that the country, since its formation, has adopted measures and enacted legislations to regulate food safety and this will be well integrated into a comprehensive mechanism and a full-fledged and improved federal law.

The Minister explained that there are many new challenges facing the food safety brought about by the opening markets in the light of ‘globalization of trade’ in goods and foodstuffs. The emergence of many pollutants that trigger causes of diseases and epidemics, both the old and the new, have become common. Many of these diseases are transmitted through food from one country to another and risk human health and cause social, material and economic losses.

He said that the ministry will benefit from experience and expertise of regional and international agencies by way of sharing information in this regard.

Alluding to the recent cabinet decision abolishing the General Secretariat of Municipalities the minister said that a directorate has been set up at the ministry for food safety.

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