UAE to ban produce from select Middle East countries in May

The UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment will reportedly ban imports of fruits and vegetables from several Middle Eastern countries from May 15.

Gulf News reports that the ban is due to pesticide residues found on produce from regional countries, with those on the list said to include Egypt, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and Yemen.

The ministry said this could result in harmful levels of pesticides in the body and environment.

Products affected by the ban include all types of pepper from Egypt, pepper, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, squash, beans and eggplant from Jordan, apples from Lebanon, melons, carrots and watercress from Oman and all types of fruit from Yemen, according to the publication.

The countries have also been asked to provide a certificate of analysis of pesticide residues for all other vegetables and fruits from May 2017.

The ban will continue until pesticide residues are reduced within safe limits.