Dubai: The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has denied lifting an import ban on imports of certain vegetables and fruits from Jordan with high pesticide residues, saying that no such decision has been issued in that regards by the UAE.
Last month, the ministry said it would ban imports of vegetables and fruits from select countries effective May 15 as those products have been found to contain pesticide residues in excess of permissible limits.
Countries impacted by the ban included Jordan, Egypt, Oman, Lebanon and Yemen.
The countries impacted by the ban have been requested to provide a certificate of analysis of pesticide residues for all other vegetables and fruits stating that they are free of such residues as of the ban date.
The relevant ministries in these countries have also been asked to comply with the food safety standards adopted by the UAE. The ban on the above mentioned produce will continue until the necessary safety requirements are met and pesticide residues are cleared.
The ministry said it analyses pesticide residues in all fresh produce and processed food in line with best international standards through its sophisticated laboratories accredited by the British Commission for Accreditation (UKAS). Laboratories in the UAE have the capacity to analyse several samples simultaneously. By doing so, they save time in issuing the results and help in making prompt and appropriate decisions on consignments that violate safety rules and procedures.
