European Commission approves continuous export of UAE camel milk to 27 EU countries in 2021

The European Commission has approved the UAE’s camel milk residue monitoring plan and continues to allow the export of UAE camel milk to the 27 EU countries for 2021, the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has announced.

Eng Saif Al Shara, assistant undersecretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector and acting assistant undersecretary for the food diversity sector at MOCCAE, said: “Enabling food products to compete in local and international markets is a priority that we aim to achieve in collaboration with our strategic partners from the public and private sectors.

“With 4,500 tons produced annually, camel milk and its products are among the UAE’s signature foods. They are in high demand locally, and owing to Al Ain Farms and Emirates Industry for Camel Milk and Products (EICMP) – the manufacturer of the popular camel milk brand Camelicious, they are making inroads into regional and global markets. This requires continuous follow-up with the concerned authorities, such as the European Commission, to keep up to date with the import requirements and help local producers meet them.”

During Q1 2021, MOCCAE worked with Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, Dubai Municipality, Al Ain Farms, and EICMP to secure the approval of the European Commission for the UAE’s Camel Milk residue monitoring plan. This included overseeing the two manufacturers’ compliance with the import requirements and submitting annual reports of residue percentages to the Commission.

The MOCCAE also issued the Ministerial Decision No. 106 of 2020 regarding the fulfillment of EU requirements by the facilities exporting camel milk and its products.  The two manufacturers – Al Ain Farms and EICMP – were approved for export to the US and Canada. Currently, MOCCAE, along with food control authorities and the two manufacturers, is liaising with Chinese authorities to obtain their approval for exporting UAE camel milk and its products to China.