Legislation Details
- Full Title: Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine
- Law Type: Federal Law
- Law Number: [number] of 2025
- Issued Date: 26 Dec 2025
- Effective Date: 30 Jan 2026
- Official Gazette: No. 814
- Sector: Environment and Natural Resources
- Status: Active
- Number of Articles: 57
- Chapters/Parts: 0
- Amendments: 0
Summary
The Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine regulates the importation, exportation, and transit of agricultural consignments, plants, plant products, and other regulated articles in the United Arab Emirates. The law aims to prevent the introduction and spread of agricultural pests within the UAE and protect the country's environment and plant resources. It grants the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment broad powers to implement phytosanitary measures, designate quarantine areas, and enforce compliance with the law's provisions. (Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine, 2025, Art. 2-4)
This law is crucial for businesses and individuals involved in the import, export, or transit of agricultural goods, as well as for the UAE's agricultural and environmental sectors. It establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework to safeguard the country's plant health and biodiversity, with strict requirements for documentation, inspection, and quarantine procedures. Violations can result in significant penalties, making compliance a priority for anyone engaged in the agricultural trade. (Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine, 2025, Art. 18-21)
What is the scope and purpose of this law?
The scope of this law extends to plants, plant products, beneficial organisms, and other articles regulated by the phytosanitary regulations that are imported into, exported from, or transiting through the UAE. Its primary objectives are to prevent the introduction and spread of agricultural pests within the UAE and to protect the country's environment and plant resources. (Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine, 2025, Art. 2-3)
What are the key definitions under this law?
- State: The United Arab Emirates
- Ministry: The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
- Minister: The Minister of Climate Change and Environment
- Establishment: The Emirates Drug Establishment
- Competent Authority: The local authority concerned with agriculture in each Emirate
- Agricultural Quarantine: All activities aimed at preventing the introduction and spread of pests subject to Agricultural Quarantine, or at ensuring that they are subject to pest control
- Point of Entry: All ports approved by the Competent Authority in the State for the importation of consignments or for the entry of passengers
- Inspector: The person licensed by the Competent Authorities in the State to carry out inspection activities
- Agricultural Consignment: Any plants, plant products, or any other articles regulated by the phytosanitary regulations entering the State or exported therefrom and transported from one country to another
- Phytosanitary Regulations: Resolutions issued by the Ministry that prevent the introduction and spread of Quarantine Pests or limit the economic impact of Non-Quarantine Pests Regulated by the Phytosanitary Regulations
- Quarantine Pest Regulated by the Phytosanitary Regulations: A pest of potential economic importance to the endangered area, which is not yet present therein, or is present but not widely distributed and subject to official control
- Non-Quarantine Pest Regulated by the Phytosanitary Regulations: A non-quarantine pest whose presence in plants intended for planting affects the intended use of those plants with economically unacceptable impact
- Beneficial Organisms: Any organism, including fungi, bacteria, viruses, virus-like organisms, and invertebrates, designated by the Minister as beneficial to plant life or agricultural production
- Importer: Any natural or legal person who owns or has the right to import plants, plant products, or other regulated articles from another State
(Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine, 2025, Art. 1)
What are the main obligations and requirements?
The law imposes several key obligations and requirements:
- No agricultural consignment shall be imported into or exported from the UAE unless it has been inspected by the Ministry and verified to be in compliance with the law's provisions. (Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine, 2025, Art. 5(1))
- Every imported or transiting agricultural consignment must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate authenticated by the competent authorities in the exporting country. (Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine, 2025, Art. 5(2))
- Importers wishing to export or re-export an agricultural consignment must submit an application to the Ministry to obtain a phytosanitary certificate. (Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine, 2025, Art. 5(3))
- Imported consignments of honeybees must be accompanied by a phytosanitary or veterinary certificate confirming they are free from pests. (Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine, 2025, Art. 5(4))
- Any person entering the UAE in possession of regulated articles or beneficial organisms must disclose them to the authorities. (Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine, 2025, Art. 6)
What licensing, registration, or approval requirements exist?
The law does not specify any licensing, registration, or approval requirements for individuals or businesses. It focuses on the inspection, certification, and control of agricultural consignments, rather than imposing any direct licensing obligations on importers or exporters.
What rights and protections does this law provide?
The law does not explicitly outline any specific rights or protections granted to individuals or businesses. Its primary focus is on empowering the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment to implement phytosanitary measures and enforce compliance with the law's provisions.
Which authorities or bodies are responsible for enforcement?
The key authorities responsible for enforcement under this law are:
- The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, which is granted broad powers to regulate the import, export, and transit of agricultural consignments, designate quarantine areas, and implement phytosanitary measures. (Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine, 2025, Art. 4)
- The Competent Authority, which is the local authority concerned with agriculture in each Emirate and works in coordination with the Ministry. (Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine, 2025, Art. 1, 4(2))
- The Emirates Drug Establishment, which the Ministry must coordinate with in exercising its competences under the law. (Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine, 2025, Art. 4(2))
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The law specifies two penalty provisions:
- Article 18 states that any violation of the provisions of this law or its executive regulations shall be punishable by a fine of not less than AED 10,000 and not more than AED 100,000. (Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine, 2025, Art. 18)
- Article 20 provides that the Ministry may initiate criminal proceedings against violators in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations. (Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine, 2025, Art. 20)
What fees, charges, or financial provisions are specified?
The law does not specify any fees, charges, or other financial provisions related to its implementation. It only mentions the penalties for non-compliance in Article 18.
What exemptions or exceptions apply?
The law does not outline any explicit exemptions or exceptions to its scope of application. It applies broadly to the import, export, and transit of agricultural consignments, plants, plant products, and other regulated articles in the UAE.
How are disputes resolved under this law?
The law does not provide any details on dispute resolution mechanisms. It does not specify any procedures for appealing decisions made by the Ministry or other authorities under this legislation.
What are the key deadlines and time limits?
The law does not stipulate any specific deadlines or time limits for compliance with its provisions. It focuses on the regulatory requirements for the import, export, and transit of agricultural consignments without prescribing any timelines.
How does this law interact with other UAE legislation?
The law references the following related legislation:
- Federal Law No. (1) of 1972 Regarding the Competences of the Ministries and the Powers of the Ministers, as amended
- Federal Law No. (5) of 1979 Regarding Agricultural Quarantine, as amended
- Federal Decree by Law No. (28) of 2023 Regarding the Establishment of the Emirates Drug Establishment
It appears to repeal and replace the previous Federal Law No. (5) of 1979 Regarding Agricultural Quarantine. (Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine, 2025, Preamble, Art. 27)
When did this law come into effect?
The Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine was issued on 26 December 2025 and came into effect on 30 January 2026, as per the dates specified in the law. (Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine, 2025, Issued Date, Effective Date)
Source Documents
This article analyses Federal Law Regarding Agricultural Quarantine 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.