These regulations come to ensure optimal use of natural resources, achieving sustainability of the agricultural and food sectors and increase the local production.

"The UAE is keen to support the national food security system, in accordance with the highest standards of food safety, so these new regulations and legislations aim to enhance the legislative and oversight role to develop the work system in the agricultural and food sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and to maximize the role of farm and livestock owners as an important and effective national element  to promote the food security and biosecurity system." H.H Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan affirmed.

The new regulations will contribute to achieve sustainable agricultural development by using of agricultural natural resources in rational manner and preserving it for future generations. H.H Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed said.

 He emphasized that the concept of sustainability is an approach adopted by Abu Dhabi Government to create a diversified knowledge-based economy thus adopting modern developments in various fields.

Form his side, H.E. Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri, Director General of ADAFSA, said, the new regulations would help ADAFSA in formulating plans and launching programs aimed at increasing agricultural economic returns, improving the income of farmers and livestock breeders, and utilizing natural resources in a rational manner, to acheive food security as well as sustainable agricultural sector. H.E. Saeed Al Bahri emphasized on the fact that the newly issued regulations will have an environmental, social and economic impacts on improving the agricultural sector as well as enhancing partnership with the private sector to invest in agriculture and food industries.

Being the authority in charge of issuing the licenses and permits to undertake all agriculture or food activities, ADAFSA relay on the strength  of the legislative system to accelerate growth drivers in both agriculture and food sectors, tighten control over food production, processing and handling throughout the food chain, and control and inspect food and agriculture facilities, farms, agricultural inputs, imported and exported food and agricultural items, and food produced in the country and handled in the Emirate.
According to the Law No. 7 of 2019, issued by The UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his capacity as the Ruler of Abu Dhabi, on the establishment of ADAFSA, three new regulations have been issued and amendments were made to five others, to ensure consistency of legislative system with Abu Dhabi Government's vision and ADAFSA's efforts to enhance the sustainability of the agricultural sector, including both plant and animal sub-sectors, and increase local production.

The first regulation clarifies the agricultural requirements for Abu Dhabi farms, for which resolution No. (3) of 2020 was issued. It sets general requirements that benefit the farm owner and serve goals pursued by Abu Dhabi Government to ensure sustainable use of natural resources. This regulation contains special requirements for undertaking agricultural-related activity, such as ways to use irrigation water to preserve this important resource and maximize its use in agricultural production, and the application of modern irrigation systems.

This regulation further sets rules and requirements for using pesticides, fertilizers, soil conditioners, seeds and saplings, as applying the proper practices for using agricultural inputs helps reducing production cost and increasing farm returns. Under this regulation, farm owner can outsource the management of his farm, which would maximize the use of farms, increase agricultural and animal production, and improve farm owners' income, particularly those who do not have the time or ability to manage their farms.

The second regulation aims at organizing the  practices within the commercial plant farms in Abu Dhabi, for which resolution No. (4) of 2020 was issued. It is intended to organize the application of the best agricultural practices in commercial farms, to improve local production quality, increase the contribution of crop production to the food security system, and ensure application   of biosecurity measures to ensure control plant pests and diseases.

The regulation obliges owners of those farms to obtain a license from ADAFSA to undertake any farming activity, provided the need to apply the proper agricultural practices while irrigating crops, using fertilizers and pesticides, and storing these materials safely. It also sets clear requirements to ensure workers' health and safety within the farm by providing adequate accommodation, living conditions and gears for conducting their work safely. The regulation also outlined requirements and rules for harvesting and handling agricultural products in commercial farms. These rules include farm general hygiene and training workers to follow proper practices while harvesting, handling and transporting products to packing facilities.

The regulation also obliges owners of those farms to create a system for tracking and recall of products, to identify the product, document production operations, especially the use of pesticides and organic fertilizers, and to provide records indicating production quantities, date of supply and data of the company receiving products.
Meanwhile, the third regulation is concerned with the prevention and control of communicable, epidemic and zoonotic and diseases in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, for which Resolution No. (5) of 2020 was issued. This kind of regualtion becomes particularly important to address increasing prevalence of these diseases due to the greater and ease of animal mobility.

The regulation helps enhancing the biosecurity system in terms of preventing diseases and pathogens, and combating infectious, epidemic and zoonotic diseases, which ensures livestock development as well as food safety. It also covers fish, crustaceans and honeybees, as they need protection against epidemic diseases like other animals.

Furthermore, the regulation defined responsibilities of livestock owners, veterinarians and laboratory technicians when detecting epidemic diseases. It also defined ADAFSA's responsibilities in terms of taking measures to prevent, investigate, monitor and control such diseases, coordinating with Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and other authorities concerned with taking  measures necessary to control epidemic and zoonotic diseases in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, developing infectious disease emergency response plans, and conducting routine simulation exercises to evaluate the efficiency of the plans and the ability of veterinarians ability in handling such diseases.

There is another regulation aims at improving the income of farm owners and livestock breeders in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, for which Resolution No. (7) of 2020 was issued by Chairman of ADAFSA. It is intended to enhance Abu Dhabi Government's support to farm owners and better use of programs and services offered by ADAFSA to help farmers continue their work and achieve rewarding economic returns, which supports agricultural sustainability and strengthens food security in the emirate.

Additionally, ADAFSA's Chairman has issued Resolution No. (6) of 2020, containing amendments to regulation No (6) of 2010 concerning food hygiene throughout the food chain. This regulation aims at keeping abreast of developments took place during this period, to tight control over the food chain and to ensure food safety in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Furthermore, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed has issued Resolution No. (2) of 2020, containing amendments to regulation No (2) of 2008 on risk-based approach for the control of imported foods via borders of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The new regulation is intended to reduce the burden on food importers without compromising  the safety requirements of the imported food, facilitate the flow of food goods into markets, and promote domestic and foreign investment in food industries.

Another regulation is concerned with small animal production units in farms, for which Resolution No. (9) of 2020 was issued. It sets requirements for issuing fish farming licenses (aquaculture) and defines hygiene requirements for animal slaughterhouses and poultry abattoirs, with the aim of standardizing control measures in these facilities. The regulation also clarifies other requirements for establishing, running and licensing of small animal production units in farms, to ensure applying biosecurity, animal welfare and the safety of animal-based foods.

The last regulation is concerned with the technical requirements for animal production establishments in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, for which Resolution No. (8) of 2020 was issued. It is intended to organize activities conducted in animal production facilities, ensure the compliance with the hygiene and animal welfare requirements, and increase awareness of the   owners and workers about the importance of applying biosecurity measures and its positive impact on the establishment's activities.