Ministry of Climate Change and Environment will facilitate licensing and registration of companies and factories as well as veterinary products

Dubai: A new Federal Law No 9 of 2017 was issued on Monday to regulate the handling, trading, marketing and circulation of veterinary products in the UAE.

President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued the law which has a direct impact on animal and public health. It comes into effect from the date of its publication in the UAE Official Gazette. Details of the executive regulations will be issued within six months from the date of its issuance.

Under the law, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment is mandated to facilitate the licensing and registration of companies and factories, as well as veterinary products, and review technical reports received from international organisations or bodies on veterinary products and companies. The ministry is also mandated to monitor markets, receive reports from hospitals or veterinary clinics and publish lists of prohibited veterinary products.

The regulation introduces veterinary products by their ingredients, which can cure or alter physiological functions in animals. It obligates the companies, factories and warehouses of veterinary products in the country to obtain the required license from the Ministry prior to commencing the practice of any activity.

The regulation also outlines best practices for the storage of valid products and the safe disposal of destroyed or expired products without contributing to environment pollution. According to the law, “administrative penalties for violations include the warning, closure of company/plant/warehouse of veterinary products for a minimum of six months or, in some cases, even permanent closure.”

Penalties

A penalty of Dh10,000 to Dh500,000 will be imposed on those possessing, selling, marketing, manufacturing, importing, storing or handling a counterfeit, corrupt or expired veterinary product.

A penalty of Dh5,000 to Dh500,000 will be imposed on any person who imports, transports or markets any registered veterinary product, modifying its data without obtaining the approval of the Ministry as stated in Article 24.

Imprisonment along with a fine of Dh20,000 to Dh100,000 or one of these penalties will be applied in the event of importing samples of any veterinary product for research or marketing purposes without obtaining the Ministry’s approval.

Similarly, imprisonment along with a fine of Dh50,000 to Dh500,000 or one of the two penalties will be applied for the use of a veterinary factory or related facilities for any other purpose without the approval of the ministry.

The law also imposes a penalty of Dh10,000 to Dh200,000 for the submission of incorrect information related to a veterinary product, failure to provide information requested by the Ministry, or the use of incorrect information in the media for the promotion of a veterinary product. Companies are not allowed to advertise a veterinary product in the media without approval from the ministry.

Licensing

All local and foreign companies should be registered with the ministry prior to commencing any veterinary product related activity in the UAE. Licences should be renewed every five years, and applicants must have a warehouse licence for the wholesale trade of veterinary products. In case of forgery or tampering of documents, companies will be closed permanently or their products prohibited in the market.

The law also states the “manufacturing of unregistered and non-prohibited veterinary products will be permitted for export purposes in accordance with the conditions and controls prescribed by the executive regulations of this law”.

Veterinary companies, factories and warehouses must notify the ministry of any change in the veterinary product or manufacturer, and about warnings issued by the company regarding the safety and efficacy of the product or if manufacturing or trading has been suspended in the country of origin. Repeated complaints about veterinary products also should be reported.

The ministry may prohibit the import or prevent the circulation, withdraw or retrieve the veterinary product, suspend or cancel the registration in case modifications are made without the approval of the Ministry, or if reports on the toxicity or serious side effects or existence of a defect in its quality or effectiveness are not submitted.

The ministry may also discontinue the use of certain products on the recommendation of relevant international organisations or supervisory bodies.

It may withdraw the registration or stop imports from the country of origin in the event of incorrect information provided in the registration file, failure to renew the license after 180 days from the expiry date, or in any other instances specified by the executive regulations of this law.

The employees appointed by a decision of the Minister of Justice in agreement with the Minister of Climate Change and Environment shall have the authority to take actions against any violation of the provisions of this law and the regulations and decisions issued thereunder.

Existing veterinary companies, factories and warehouses should comply with the provisions of this law within six months from the date of its implementation. They can gain an extension period of six months as per the Cabinet decision. The Cabinet will soon issue a decision specifying the prescribed fees in accordance with the provisions of this law.

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