The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has partnered with the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) to develop a regulatory framework for novel foods.
The strategic initiative aims to establish a comprehensive, streamlined registration system aligned with a range of international best practices. It will reduce the registration period for novel foods by six to nine months.
The framework will also unify the registration requirements for new food products, halal certification, and production/import permits through a single-point contact system. Furthermore, a national database of approved food products will be developed, alongside detailed technical and regulatory guidelines.
“The development of this regulatory framework for novel foods embodies Abu Dhabi’s commitment to adopting the highest global standards for food safety and innovation,” said H.E. Dr Tariq Ahmed Al Ameri, Acting Director-General of ADAFSA. “It enhances the readiness of our regulatory ecosystem to embrace emerging technologies such as cultivated proteins and precision fermentation-based foods.”
Accelerating the adoption of advanced solutions
The new framework will introduce a science-based risk assessment approach based on the type and maturity of the technology used. It will also update the halal certification system to align with global benchmarks such as those of Malaysia and Indonesia, with the aim of boosting national food export competitiveness.
The initiative is part of an effort to advance sustainable food security across the UAE and make Abu Dhabi a global leader in food innovation. The partners also hope to attract high-value investments in advanced agriculture, sustainable food systems, and biotechnology, which could drive economic growth.
The news comes just days after ADIO announced a partnership with sustainable protein producers The EVERY Company and Vivici to establish a protein fermentation facility in Abu Dhabi. The site will support the creation of a regulatory framework for fermented proteins in the UAE.
“This partnership is designed to build a connected business ecosystem that combines forward-thinking regulations with Abu Dhabi’s strong investment ecosystem and solid support for technological innovation,” said H.E. Badr Al-Olama, Director-General of ADIO. “With a focus on accelerating the adoption of advanced solutions such as alternative proteins and precision fermentation, this collaboration reflects our commitment to the UAE National Food Security Strategy 2051 and reinforces Abu Dhabi’s role as a global centre for food innovation.”
