Abu Dhabi inspects 1.5 million tons of imported food

Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) announced that it seized and confiscated approximately 749 tons of imported food deemed unfit for human consumption at Abu Dhabi’s land, sea, and air entry points in 2024. The contaminated shipments were either returned to their country of origin or destroyed.

In a press statement released on Sunday, ADAFSA revealed that it conducted inspections on 1,528,639 tons of imported food last year, covering 82,429 imported food shipments and 681,123 food products. The authority emphasized its unwavering commitment to strengthening food safety measures and ensuring the availability of safe and high-quality food for the community by implementing regulatory strategies aligned with global best practices.

Robust inspection framework

ADAFSA highlighted its adoption of a risk-based inspection system that follows a structured series of regulatory procedures. These include verifying documentation and health certificates for commercial food consignments, conducting visual inspections, and performing laboratory testing to ensure compliance with safety standards.

The authority also integrates comprehensive awareness programs in the fields of agriculture and food safety, based on international best practices and risk analysis principles. These initiatives contribute to public well-being by ensuring access to safe and healthy food.

Digital platform for food imports and exports

Through its Food Imports and Exports Platform, ADAFSA facilitates food trade operations via the “ATLP” Advanced Trade and Logistics Platform. This system serves as a unified gateway for importers and exporters, streamlining application processes, tracking requests, and expediting the clearance of imported food shipments before they reach the entry points.

The platform also provides an end-to-end digital solution for seven key services, including:

• Registration of food importing companies

• Registration of imported food products

• Food import applications

• Export certification

• Food destruction certificates

• Food shipment inspection requests

• Customs clearance procedures

These digital services, coordinated with Abu Dhabi Customs, enhance trade facilitation while reinforcing food safety standards.

Enhanced oversight and compliance measures

ADAFSA’s system also integrates international food safety alerts, allowing for stringent monitoring of non-compliant food products. The platform enables the electronic recall of unsafe food items, notifying registered importers to withdraw affected products from the local market and report the recalled quantities for necessary regulatory action.

Impact and growth in food trade

The authority reported a 13% increase in imported food shipments in 2024 compared to the previous year. Additionally, over 85,000 new food products were registered in the Food Imports and Exports Platform, categorizing them by food group and assessing their health risk levels. Each product is linked to a laboratory testing protocol, ensuring rigorous safety standards are met before distribution.

As part of its inspection efforts, ADAFSA reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health by thoroughly monitoring food imports, seizing substandard shipments, and enforcing strict compliance with food safety regulations.