The UAE has adopted Gulf standard GSO 9/2007 and GSO 150/2007 for labeling and shelf life as its
domestic standards.
The Food Department of the Dubai Municipality took the initiative to draft a food import “mechanism”
which translates the labeling and shelf life standards into a manual for easy dissemination to and use by
stakeholders. It also provides both the importer and the exporter further clarification of the standards
and the method of application. The “mechanism” is being discussed among UAE municipalities for a
federal application, but no decision has been taken yet. In any case, the Dubai Municipality is the only
health authority in the UAE that has adopted the mechanism.