Resolution of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Abu Dhabi Authority for Agriculture and Food Safety No.4 of 2020 to issue a regulation for commercial vegetable farms.

This Resolution consisting of 11 articles aims at (i) organizing plant production processes and practices to ensure the sustainability of natural resources on farms and preventing wrongful practices and uses thereof; (ii) achieving the safety of vegetable agricultural products; (iii) ensuring biosecurity and controlling pests and diseases; (iv) enhancing the contribution of agricultural production to the food security system; and (v) enhancing the contribution of vegetable production to the total income of the Emirate.
Together with general provisions (such as licenses, operations supervision, licensed activities, ban of non-agricultural activities, safe disposal of waste, farm boundaries and identification boards, storehouses, protection for agricultural inputs, warehouse spaces and necessary warning signs, and storage of agricultural inputs), the Resolution includes specific conditions for regulating the production practices dealing with the following (i) the use of irrigation water; (ii) the use of agricultural pesticides; (iii) the use of fertilizers and agricultural conditioners; and (iv) the cultivation of seeds, seedlings, and propagating materials. A Section is dedicated to health and safety of farm workers since the owners of commercial vegetable farms must provide facilities and equipment to ensure a healthy work environment for all workers on the farm, and obtain official approvals from the relevant authorities before establishing any facility. Conditions for harvesting and handling agricultural products are provided in article 7 and deal with (i) sanitation; (ii) agricultural product handling; (iii) washing and treatment of agricultural products; (iv) use of the farm's trade name, and quality control; and (v) traceability of products.