The UAE has introduced new limits on sodium, sugar and fat in selected packaged food products as part of a national effort to improve nutrition and reduce the risk of obesity and other noncommunicable diseases.
The new resolution applies to specified foods manufactured locally or imported into the UAE, including products handled by businesses operating in free zones. Targeted products include bread, sweetened milk drinks, flavoured yoghurt and laban, salty snacks and processed cheese.
The limits will be introduced in phases, with businesses required to meet initial thresholds before gradually reducing the targeted ingredients further. For example, the final sodium limit for leavened bread will be 370mg per 100g, while total sugars and total fat will be capped at 5g and 7g respectively. Similar reductions will apply to flat bread, dairy drinks, yoghurt, snacks and processed cheese.
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Businesses handling most of the targeted products will have up to nine months to meet the first-phase requirements, while processed cheese manufacturers and importers will have up to two years and three months. All products must meet the final limits by December 31, 2030.
Non-compliance may result in warnings or fines ranging from Dh5,000 to Dh500,000. Authorities may also suspend operations for up to six months or cancel relevant licences or approvals.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention said “The resolution creates a national framework to gradually reduce the targeted ingredients and improve the nutritional value of food products, while supporting more balanced food choices.”
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