Traffic-Light Food Labels Coming To Dubai

Dubai Municipality said on September 3 that packaged food sold in the emirate will carry a new front-of-pack nutrition label using traffic light-style colors and an A-to-E scale. The municipality said the format is intended to let consumers and food businesses check nutritional information more quickly than with standard nutrition tables alone. The move revives a labeling approach the UAE has discussed for years, though earlier federal plans centered on color bands for salt, sugar, fat and saturated fat. Dubai’s Food Safety Department is the local authority overseeing food safety systems and trader compliance in the emirate. ### What exactly is changing on food packages in Dubai? Dubai Municipality said the new label will appear on food products as a simplified nutrition marker on the package. The municipality described it as a traffic light-style system paired with A-to-E grading, according to the report published on September 3. Consumers and food businesses will be able to verify nutritional information through the label rather than relying only on a conventional nutrition facts panel. (msn.com) The UAE’s broader food-labeling policy, published in 2019, had already set out a front-of-pack concept using traffic light colors to present nutritional values that affect public health, including sugar, fats, saturated fats, minerals and calories. That policy said the aim was to help people make daily healthy choices “easily and quickly.” (msn.com) ### Does this replace the nutrition table already printed on packs? The earlier UAE standard for prepackaged foods did not remove the requirement for conventional nutrition labeling on the back of packs. Australian trade guidance issued when the UAE standard was being rolled out said the traffic light system would be printed on the front side of packaging and would not negate the need for standard nutritional labeling. (uaelegislation.gov.ae) That history matters because Dubai’s new announcement describes the front label as a simpler visual aid, not as a substitute for all existing product information. The municipality’s public food-business pages continue to list food labeling, calorie declaration and nutrition-related compliance material among the resources available to traders and establishments. (agriculture.gov.au) ### Why is Dubai using a traffic-light format now? The 2019 federal policy said the purpose of traffic-light labeling was to educate consumers and support faster decisions at the point of purchase. The policy linked the format to nutrients with a significant impact on public health and said visual cues were intended to distinguish nutritional values clearly. (dm.gov.ae) Khaleej Times’ report, as syndicated on September 3, said Dubai expects the format to help shoppers compare products quickly and allow food businesses to verify the accuracy of nutritional data through a straightforward label. The report did not specify a launch date or list product categories covered in the first phase. (uaelegislation.gov.ae) ### Has the UAE tried this before? The UAE had previously moved toward mandatory traffic-light labeling before changing course. Industry and compliance reports in December 2021 said Cabinet amendments shifted the requirement under UAE.S 5034:2018 from mandatory to voluntary ahead of a planned January 2022 start. Those reports said the change was intended to reduce burdens on manufacturers and suppliers. (msn.com) That means Dubai’s September 2026 move comes after a federal framework that promoted front-of-pack traffic-light nutrition information but did not proceed as a nationwide mandatory rollout in the form first proposed. The available public material does not yet show whether Dubai’s A-to-E system is a municipal requirement, a phased program, or a voluntary scheme tied to local registration and compliance channels. (foodcomplianceinternational.com) ### Where will businesses look for the next details? Dubai Municipality directs food traders and establishments to its food-safety and food-business portals for rules, permits and guidance. The municipality’s Food Safety Department says it oversees imported food products, food activities and awareness programs, while the Food Elite and Food Lite portals serve as digital channels for food-sector services. (uaelegislation.gov.ae) September 3 is the date of the public report on the new labels, but no detailed implementation circular, compliance deadline or penalty schedule was visible in the official pages reviewed. Food manufacturers, importers and traders in Dubai are likely to watch Dubai Municipality’s Food Safety Department and food business portals for technical guidance on scope, timing and registration steps. (msn.com) (dm.gov.ae)