Dubai and Abu Dhabi to streamline food control procedures

The MoU was signed on behalf of Dubai Municipality by Hussein Nasser Lootah, Deputy Director General of the municipality, and on behalf of the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority by Majid Al Mansoori, chairman of the committee that manages the authority. Also present were Salim Mesmar, Director of Public Health Department at the municipality and senior officials from the authority.

According to the MoU, both parties will work for unifying, as much as possible, food control procedures for foodstuff that are imported through various border points in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. This will be done in coordination with the competent authorities in both the emirates.

Also, attempts will be made at integrating laboratory tests on food items in line with approved international standards and as per mutual agreement. The two parties will also work for unifying and developing quarantine rules as well as precautionary and diagnostic procedures in the field of veterinary care as per approved international standards.

The memorandum aims to achieve several objectives including protection of public health by ensuring food safety, health of the society's individuals, and animal welfare as well as by facing the present and future challenges that pose risks to the above factors. It also seeks to control, in as much ways as possible, the health risks resulting from lack of food safety and animal diseases, as well as the subsequent economic and material consequences that have a long term negative impact on society in general and the public's health in particular.

Another objective, the MoU seeks to achieve, is keeping pace with the latest developments in related fields on national and international levels and adoption of the most modern and advanced means and methods that guarantee execution of tasks assigned to both parties efficiently and effectively. Other objectives include ideal use of available resources from both sides by integrating and streamlining rules, regulations and work mechanisms as well as amending prevailing laws in both emirates and upgrading them in order to achieve objectives of this memorandum and in public interest.

It has been agreed that a joint higher committee will be formed by both civic bodies to draw up a unified vision and strategy for following up implementation of this memorandum. Specialised technical taskforces will also be formed as and when required and they will report to the proposed higher committee.