Import an agricultural consignment

For import permit:

1. Fill out the electronic form
2. E-Payment
3. Issuing the import permit electronically

To release the consignment:

1. Fill out the electronic form
2. E-Payment
3. Visual inspection and laboratory tests (if required)
4. Issuing the release permit electronically

Import:

(Seeds and tubers importing for the first time):

• A letter of authorization from Production company or Exporter company stating that “No objection from the registration and trading of seeds & tubers in UAE.”
• Certificate issued by Production company certified by the competent authority in the country of origin to prove that the seed & tubers are not genetically modified.
• Certification by the competent authority in the country of origin to prove that the Production company is licensed for the purposes of seeds & tuber production.
• A technical Sheet issued by the Production company, including the following information:

1. Name and address of the Production company or the company that owns his agency.
2. The scientific name of the variety (Genus, species and varieties.)
3. Origin of seed
4. Group followed by the product (F1 hybrid is a hybrid or plain)
5. Resistant for pests.
6. Germination and Purity percentages

• In the event that the facility wants to import seeds and tubers as organic agricultural production inputs, a valid certificate issued by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology or a certification body applying the organic agricultural production standards of European, American, Japanese, Saudi Arabia, Tunisian, Indian, New Zealand, Australian, Canadian, must be attached.

RELEASE:

For all consignment (Seedlings, plants, Palm seedlings, Seeds & tubers, bees):

• Origin certificate
• Phytosanitary certificate issued by the competent authority in the country of export
• Copy of the customs manifest, bill of lading or delivery authorization
• Invoice or product list

For seed consignments (in addition to the above documents, you must attach):

• Germination and purity examination certificate designed and approved in accordance with the International Seed Inspection System (ISTA) or a certificate issued by a government laboratory in the country of origin or from a laboratory approved by the competent authority in the country of origin.

First- General requirements:

1. The importer should have a valid agricultural activity license.
2. Import permit must be obtained before consignments are shipped from the country of export.
3. Importation of any items not mentioned in the import permit shall be rejected.
4. It is prohibited to enter agricultural shipments infected with any of the quarantine & regulated non quarantine plant pests.
5. The imported items are included in the Ministry's electronic services system.

Second- Special requirements:

Seeds & Tubers:

1. The establishment must have an agricultural activity license that includes the activity of importing and exporting seeds.
2. Packastablishmentges is made of stainless steel, paper bags lined with aluminum, or plastic and canvas containers to preserve the vitality of seeds without damage.
3. The packages contain labels in Arabic or English or one of them, showing all the required data written in a clear line that cannot be erased, or scrapped according to the following:

• Name of crop and name of Varity
• Date of seed production and shelf life
• Operational number
• Percentage of purity and germination rate
• Name of the producing company and origin
• Chemical treatments performed on seeds before packing
• The net weight of seeds inside the package or the number of seeds inside the bag

Seedlings, Plants:

1.The establishment must have an agricultural activity license that includes the activity of importing and exporting plants and seedlings

2.It is prohibited to enter the natural soil associated with seedlings, plants.

3.When importing agricultural consignments in packages of plant origin, a statement is required in the phytosanitary certificate that the packets have been processed with mentioning the type of treatment.

4.When importing (tomato, eggplant, potato, pepper and beans) from countries infected with Tomato leafminer described in the link below, as a phytosanitary measure to prove in the additional declaration of Phytosanitary certificates that the consignments is free from all pest stages (described in below link).

https://www.moccae.gov.ae/assets/download/2022/M423_12_.pdf.aspx

5.When importing plants or cut flowers of (Daisy, Carnation, Banana, tobacco, Rice, Pelargonium) from countries infected with the Fall army worm, to prove in the additional declaration of Phytosanitary certificates that the consignments is free from fall armyworm (described in below link).

https://www.moccae.gov.ae/assets/download/2022/M322_18.pdf.aspx

 6.It is prohibited to import plants, seedlings or a part of them from any country infected with Bayoud disease or Lethal Yellowing Virus or the red palm weevil, according to the link below:

https://www.moccae.gov.ae/assets/download/2022/M417_19.pdf.aspx

 7.It is allowed to import tissue culture palm seedlings which do not exceed the diameter of the leg 5 cm on average.

Honey bees:

1. The establishment must have an agricultural activity license that includes the activity of importing and exporting bees
2. Bee consignments is rejected if symptoms of the following diseases and pests was shown in visual inspection: Varroa sp/ acarapis woodi/Nosema apis/virus paralysis/Braula coeca/Malpighamoeba/American foulbrood/European foulbrood/Chalkbrood/Sacbrood
3. It is prohibited to import the following bee species: (Asian bees, giant bees, African bee breed)
4. The import of bees from countries affected by the following pests is prohibited: small hive beetle (Aethina tumida)/ tropilaelaps spp.