Legislation Details
- Full Title: Federal Law for Regarding the Production, Importation, and Circulation of Fertilizers and Agricultural Conditioners
- Law Type: Federal Law
- Law Number: Federal Law No. (39) of 1992
- Issued Date: 28 Sep 1992
- Effective Date: 12 Oct 1992
- Official Gazette: No. 243
- Sector: Environment and Natural Resources
- Status: Active
- Number of Articles: 22
- Chapters/Parts: 0
- Amendments: 1
Summary
This Federal Law regulates the production, importation, and circulation of fertilizers and agricultural conditioners in the United Arab Emirates. Its purpose is to ensure the quality, safety, and proper use of these products to preserve soil fertility and increase agricultural productivity. The law is important for businesses and individuals involved in the fertilizer and agricultural input industry, as it sets out the requirements and procedures for obtaining approvals, testing products, and complying with packaging and labeling standards. Violations can result in significant penalties, including imprisonment and fines. The law also empowers authorities to monitor compliance and take enforcement action. (Federal Law for Regarding the Production, Importation, and Circulation of Fertilizers and Agricultural Conditioners, 1992, Arts. 1-11)
What is the scope and purpose of this law?
The law applies to the production, importation, and circulation (offering for sale, selling, storing, or transporting) of fertilizers and agricultural conditioners within the United Arab Emirates. It regulates two main categories of products: 1. Fertilizers, which include chemical fertilizers (simple and compound) and organic fertilizers that provide nutrients to plants and improve soil fertility. 2. Agricultural conditioners, which include soil conditioners and beneficial microorganisms that restore or improve soil properties to increase crop production. (Federal Law for Regarding the Production, Importation, and Circulation of Fertilizers and Agricultural Conditioners, 1992, Art. 2) The purpose of the law is to ensure the quality, safety, and proper use of these products to preserve soil fertility and increase agricultural productivity in the UAE. (Federal Law for Regarding the Production, Importation, and Circulation of Fertilizers and Agricultural Conditioners, 1992, Arts. 1-2)
What are the key definitions under this law?
The law provides the following key definitions:
- State: The United Arab Emirates
- Establishment: The Emirates Drug Establishment
- Chairman: The Chairman of the Establishment
- Competent Department: The Competent Organizational unit of the Establishment
- Competent Authority: The Competent Authority for organizing production, importing and circulation of fertilizers and agricultural conditioners in each Emirate
- Circulation: Offering for sale, selling, storing or transporting by any means of transportation
(Federal Law for Regarding the Production, Importation, and Circulation of Fertilizers and Agricultural Conditioners, 1992, Art. 1)
What are the main obligations and requirements?
The law imposes the following key obligations: 1. The Competent Department, in coordination with the Competent Authority, must determine the types of permitted fertilizers and agricultural conditioners, their specifications, and the conditions and procedures for their production, manufacture, use, importation, circulation, and announcement within the UAE. (Federal Law for Regarding the Production, Importation, and Circulation of Fertilizers and Agricultural Conditioners, 1992, Art. 3) 2. The production, manufacture, importation, or circulation of fertilizers and agricultural conditioners is not permitted without prior approval from the Competent Authority, except for certain exemptions. (Federal Law for Regarding the Production, Importation, and Circulation of Fertilizers and Agricultural Conditioners, 1992, Art. 4) 3. Persons currently operating in the UAE whose activities fall under the law must regularize their status in accordance with the law and its executive resolutions within six months of the law's entry into force. (Federal Law for Regarding the Production, Importation, and Circulation of Fertilizers and Agricultural Conditioners, 1992, Art. 6)
What licensing, registration, or approval requirements exist?
The law requires prior approval from the Competent Authority for the production, manufacture, importation, or circulation of fertilizers and agricultural conditioners, except for the following exemptions: 1. Fertilizers and agricultural conditioners designated for universities and research centers for scientific research purposes, provided they follow procedures to prevent circulation in the local market. 2. Fertilizers and agricultural conditioners imported for re-export purposes, provided they do not cross the UAE's ports of entry. (Federal Law for Regarding the Production, Importation, and Circulation of Fertilizers and Agricultural Conditioners, 1992, Art. 4)
Which authorities or bodies are responsible for enforcement?
The law empowers the following authorities and bodies for enforcement: 1. The Emirates Drug Establishment, its Chairman, and the Competent Department are responsible for determining the permitted types, specifications, and procedures for fertilizers and agricultural conditioners. (Federal Law for Regarding the Production, Importation, and Circulation of Fertilizers and Agricultural Conditioners, 1992, Art. 3) 2. The Chairman of the Emirates Drug Establishment may prohibit the production, manufacture, export, import, and circulation of any type of fertilizers or agricultural conditioners temporarily or permanently, whenever the public interest so requires. (Federal Law for Regarding the Production, Importation, and Circulation of Fertilizers and Agricultural Conditioners, 1992, Art. 5) 3. Employees designated by the Minister of Justice, in agreement with the Chairman and the Head of the Competent Authority, have the capacity of judicial enforcement officers to monitor compliance and detect violations. (Federal Law for Regarding the Production, Importation, and Circulation of Fertilizers and Agricultural Conditioners, 1992, Art. 7)
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The law prescribes the following penalties for violations: 1. Imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months and a fine of not less than 20,000 AED and not exceeding 100,000 AED, or either of these penalties. 2. If the violation results in the death of a person or causes harm to their health, the violator shall be punished according to the penalties stipulated in Articles 342 and 343 of the Penal Code. 3. The material subject of the violation shall be confiscated. (Federal Law for Regarding the Production, Importation, and Circulation of Fertilizers and Agricultural Conditioners, 1992, Art. 8)
What fees, charges, or financial provisions are specified?
The law states that the payable fees according to its provisions shall be determined by a resolution of the Cabinet. (Federal Law for Regarding the Production, Importation, and Circulation of Fertilizers and Agricultural Conditioners, 1992, Art. 9)
When did this law come into effect?
This Federal Law was published in the Official Gazette and entered into force from the date of its publication on 12 October 1992. (Federal Law for Regarding the Production, Importation, and Circulation of Fertilizers and Agricultural Conditioners, 1992, Art. 11)
Source Documents
This article analyses Federal Law for Regarding the Production, Importation, and Circulation of Fertilizers and Agricultural Conditioners for legal research and educational purposes. For the purpose of interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text prevails. This does not constitute legal advice.