The most important and key primary legislation is the “Law No.2 pertaining to Food within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi" which was officially published in January 2008, thus bringing Abu Dhabi to be the first on the national level and among the early few on the regional level in setting the key legislative basis in the area of food safety.

The New Food Law emphasizes consumer protection and ensuring the food safety whether imported or handled within the domestic market in the emirate of Abu Dhabi as well as the responsibility of private sector in ensuring the highest standards of food safety and the role and mandate of food inspectors. Additionally the law has introduced the concepts of food traceability and recall and laid down the violations categories and entailed penalties with the focus on shifting from "Policing" inspection to "Coaching & Guidance" approach.

Download Food Law 2008