Abu dhabi: The Government of the United Arab Emirates has announced a comprehensive package of updated federal laws to enhance agricultural and veterinary quarantine, protect new plant varieties, and regulate the international trade in endangered animals and plants. These updates are part of ongoing efforts to further develop the legislative and regulatory framework governing these critical sectors.
According to Emirates News Agency, the new law aligns with the UAE's strategic goals of protecting biodiversity, strengthening legal protections for endangered species, and regulating their international trade in accordance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This legislation replaces Federal Law No. 11 of 2002, which governed the international trade in endangered species for over two decades. The updated law aims to enhance compliance with CITES requirements and improve enforcement by granting broader powers to the national administrative authority.
The law introduces precise definitions for key terms such as endangered species, falcon passport, and phytosanitary certificate. Its provisions apply across all UAE territories, including free zones, and it prohibits the import, export, re-export, and transit of endangered specimens through UAE border points. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment is designated as the national administrative authority responsible for implementing the law and overseeing enforcement.
Significant penalties are imposed under the new law, with fines ranging from AED30,000 to AED2 million and custodial penalties of up to four years. Foreign offenders face mandatory deportation in cases of recidivism. The law also empowers authorities to dispose of seized specimens based on judicial rulings and includes provisions for regulating transit specimens.
Veterinary quarantine, as outlined in the new legislation, serves as the first line of defense against infectious animal diseases, aligning national laws with international standards. Replacing Federal Law No. 6 of 1979, the updated law introduces terms such as veterinary quarantine procedures and veterinary health certificates, applying to all animal consignments entering, leaving, or transiting the UAE.
The law authorizes competent authorities to enact precautionary measures, such as import bans and temporary quarantine restrictions, in response to international alerts on transboundary animal diseases. Animal consignments can only enter the UAE through designated border entry points, and the law establishes an integrated system for prevention, assessment, and disposal of infected animals.
In agricultural quarantine, the new law modernizes the framework by replacing Federal Law No. 5 of 1979. It aligns with the International Plant Protection Convention to enhance the UAE's role in international agricultural trade. Updated terminology includes phytosanitary regulations and regulated articles, with provisions applying to plants, plant products, and beneficial organisms imported into, exported from, or transiting the UAE. Penalties for violations include fines up to AED500,000 and mandatory deportation for foreign repeat offenders.
The Law on the Protection of New Plant Varieties aims to protect new plant varieties and regulate breeders' rights, replacing Federal Law No. 17 of 2009. It establishes a Register for the Protection of New Plant Varieties and outlines the competencies of the Registrar. Protection is granted for varieties that are new, distinct, uniform, and stable, with a period of 20 years, extended to 25 years for vines and trees. Penalties include custodial sentences of up to three years and fines up to AED250,000.
