Federal Law No.6 of 2025 regarding Veterinary Quarantine.

This Law, consisting of 28 articles, aims to regulate Veterinary Quarantine Procedures on animal consignments and to protect the State from animal Diseases, and applies to all animal consignments imported into the State, exported therefrom, or transiting through its territory. In the event of the emergence of any disease or risks in any country that constitute a health threat upon the import or transit of animal consignments, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment shall adopt the necessary precautionary measures ane it is responsible for (i) authorizing the export or transit of locally originating animals from areas under internal quarantine to destinations outside the State; (ii) refusing the return of animal consignments that were transiting through the State if the importing country rejects their entry; (iii) designating temporary quarantine locations in emergencies or when approved Veterinary Quarantine Centers cannot be used.
The Law establishes a comprehensive system regulating permits, import conditions, transport requirements, veterinary control, and the obligations of operators involved in animal consignments. Concerning authorization requirements, the Law provides the following: (i) Article 6 establishes that any person wishing to import, export, or transit an animal consignment through the State must obtain the necessary permits or veterinary health certificates from the Ministry; (ii) Article 7 stipulates that animal consignments may enter the United Arab Emirates only through officially approved border ports, and grants the Ministry the authority to determine which ports are authorized and which types of consignments may enter through each port. The Law also establishes specific conditions for importing animals and animal products. In particular, (i) Article 8 provides that animal consignments must normally originate from countries or regions free from animal diseases, as determined by the Ministry. However, imports from countries where diseases have been reported may still be permitted if the Ministry carries out a risk assessment and imposes the appropriate health controls and procedures. With respect to transport and inspection, the Law provides that: (i) Article 9 requires carriers of animal consignments to comply with the transport specifications and requirements established by the Ministry or the competent authority; (ii) Article 10 states that where a means of transport is contaminated or does not comply with the required transport conditions, the Ministry may order its disinfection, apply veterinary quarantine procedures to the consignment, or refuse entry and require the re-export of the shipment. The Law further regulates veterinary control and inspection procedures, providing that: (i) Article 11 authorizes the Ministry to evaluate the level of veterinary services and animal disease control systems in exporting countries to ensure adequate biosecurity measures; (ii) Article 12 empowers the Supervising Veterinarian at border ports to refuse the entry of any animal consignment found to be infected with a disease; (iii) Article 13 sets out the duties of the Supervising Veterinarian, which include inspecting consignments, verifying accompanying documentation, conducting visual and laboratory examinations, and issuing veterinary health certificates for exported consignments when required. Finally, the Law establishes obligations for owners, importers, and exporters of animal consignments, including the following: (i) Article 14 requires these operators to comply with all applicable import, export, and transit requirements, bear the costs associated with veterinary quarantine procedures, provide adequate food, water, and care for animals during quarantine, and cover the costs arising from the destruction or confiscation of consignments that do not comply with the legal requirements; (ii) Article 15 provides that animals infected with diseases, as well as contaminated animal products or by-products, must be safely disposed of in accordance with the prescribed procedures, without any entitlement to compensation for the owners.