emirates7 - The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) organized a workshop in Dubai to discuss the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries' experiences in accrediting food facilities that export to member states.
This initiative underscores the UAE's pivotal role in advancing sustainable food security both locally and regionally by promoting the exchange of knowledge, sharing best practices, and fostering closer collaboration among GCC nations. The workshop aligns with MOCCAE's strategic objectives to strengthen food security in the UAE.
By showcasing successful approaches to accrediting food-exporting facilities within the GCC, the event emphasized ensuring food safety at the source and reducing the risks of diseases, pests, and other threats entering through imported food.
The workshop brought together technical teams from GCC food safety authorities, regulatory bodies, and representatives from relevant UAE agencies responsible for food safety. Marwan Abdullah Al Zaabi, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Regions Sector at MOCCAE, welcomed participants and highlighted the ministry's commitment to refining food facility accreditation processes. He emphasized adopting best practices at local, regional, and international levels to identify challenges proactively and recommend solutions for improving these mechanisms. Additionally, the ministry seeks to address critical issues in verifying halal compliance throughout the food supply chain, from production to consumption.
Al Zaabi noted the UAE's progress in accrediting establishments exporting animal-origin food products. This process includes evaluating the veterinary health status of exporting countries, aligning health certification models, and ensuring compliance with the GCC Guide for Control on Imported Foods. Food establishments are approved only after meeting stringent food safety and halal standards. He also highlighted that 2024 marks the tenth anniversary of MOCCAE’s electronic services for accrediting such establishments.
The workshop was a follow-up to recommendations from the 8th Ministerial Committee for Food Safety meeting held on March 7, 2024, in Doha. The committee stressed adopting a unified approach for overseeing food exports, incorporating it into the GCC Guide, and advancing efforts to meet the customs and economic agreement requirements. These measures aim to facilitate seamless trade without barriers and ensure mutual recognition of accreditation procedures among member states.
Discussions at the workshop focused on three key areas: accrediting facilities for animal-origin products, mechanisms for halal food accreditation, and the role of conformity assessment bodies in verifying compliance with food safety standards. Participants from each GCC country shared their experiences in these areas.
The workshop concluded with the recognition of several speakers and teams for their ongoing contributions to strengthening food security across the GCC region.
This initiative underscores the UAE's pivotal role in advancing sustainable food security both locally and regionally by promoting the exchange of knowledge, sharing best practices, and fostering closer collaboration among GCC nations. The workshop aligns with MOCCAE's strategic objectives to strengthen food security in the UAE.
By showcasing successful approaches to accrediting food-exporting facilities within the GCC, the event emphasized ensuring food safety at the source and reducing the risks of diseases, pests, and other threats entering through imported food.
The workshop brought together technical teams from GCC food safety authorities, regulatory bodies, and representatives from relevant UAE agencies responsible for food safety. Marwan Abdullah Al Zaabi, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Regions Sector at MOCCAE, welcomed participants and highlighted the ministry's commitment to refining food facility accreditation processes. He emphasized adopting best practices at local, regional, and international levels to identify challenges proactively and recommend solutions for improving these mechanisms. Additionally, the ministry seeks to address critical issues in verifying halal compliance throughout the food supply chain, from production to consumption.
Al Zaabi noted the UAE's progress in accrediting establishments exporting animal-origin food products. This process includes evaluating the veterinary health status of exporting countries, aligning health certification models, and ensuring compliance with the GCC Guide for Control on Imported Foods. Food establishments are approved only after meeting stringent food safety and halal standards. He also highlighted that 2024 marks the tenth anniversary of MOCCAE’s electronic services for accrediting such establishments.
The workshop was a follow-up to recommendations from the 8th Ministerial Committee for Food Safety meeting held on March 7, 2024, in Doha. The committee stressed adopting a unified approach for overseeing food exports, incorporating it into the GCC Guide, and advancing efforts to meet the customs and economic agreement requirements. These measures aim to facilitate seamless trade without barriers and ensure mutual recognition of accreditation procedures among member states.
Discussions at the workshop focused on three key areas: accrediting facilities for animal-origin products, mechanisms for halal food accreditation, and the role of conformity assessment bodies in verifying compliance with food safety standards. Participants from each GCC country shared their experiences in these areas.
The workshop concluded with the recognition of several speakers and teams for their ongoing contributions to strengthening food security across the GCC region.