Chemical Registration in UAE - Overview
Cleaning and disinfectant products are called/identified and regulated differently across countries and regions, making it very challenging for the industry to place these products in different markets.
In the UAE, Dubai Municipality (DM)/Health & Safety Department regulates the manufacture, sale, and importation of chemical disinfectant and detergent household cleaning products. These products are to be registered prior to their placement in the Dubai market, and the individuals running the activities related to these products are required to be licensed in Dubai.
Disinfectants in the UAE are classified as per the intended application area (similar to Europe) as mentioned below:
Table 1: Classification of Disinfectants in the UAE
| Human Hygiene | Surface Disinfectant | Veterinary Hygiene | Food and Feed Area | Water Disinfection | Insect Repellent |
| Used for Human Hygiene purposes, applied on or in contact with human skin or scalps (Hand Sanitizers, Antibacterial personal care products) | Disinfectants and algaecides not intended for direct application to humans or animals (floor disinfectant, multipurpose disinfectant, B2B disinfectant chemicals) | Used for veterinary hygiene purposes, disinfecting materials and surfaces associated with housing or transportation of animals (disinfectant used on farms) | Disinfection of materials, equipment, utensils, and surfaces associated with production, transport, and storage or consumption of food and feed for humans and animals (disinfectant used in food processing areas)
| Disinfectants used in disinfection of water for both human and animal use but not including water disinfectant (swimming pool disinfectant) | Used to control harmful organism such as invertebrates by repelling used on the skin (insect repellent sprays and creams |
Further, detergents also cover a wide spectrum depending on intended use and application area as mentioned below:
Table 2: Classification of Detergents in the UAE
| Detergent Cleaners | B2B (Industrial/ Institutional) | Food and Feed Area |
| Laundry detergents/Washing tablets/ Floor cleaners/ Kitchen cleaners/Drain cleaners/Stain removers, etc. | Industrial detergent chemicals/Hotel amenity detergents. | Detergents to be used in food processing areas, including slaughterhouses. |
Table 3: Chemical Regulations in the UAE
| Categories | Biocide/Disinfectant | Detergents/Cleaning products | General consumer Products | Chemicals |
| Regulation | Local order no (11) 2003 concerning public health and safety of the society in the Emirate of Dubai. | Local order no (11) 2003 concerning public health and safety of the society in the Emirate of Dubai. | Federal Law No. 15 of 2020 on Consumer Protection. | Ministerial Decree No. (783) of 2015 regarding banned and restricted industrial chemicals in the United Arab Emirates. Ministerial Decree No. 37 of 2001 concerning the Handling of Hazardous Materials, Hazardous Wastes & Medical Wastes 2001 GHS. |
| Registration Requirement | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Process in Brief | Online | Online | N/A | N/A |
| Local Representative | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A |
| Key Data Requirements |
| N/A
| ||
GHS is applicable in the UAE as The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), the voice of the chemical and petrochemical industry in the Arabian Gulf, and the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO), the regional organization for national standardization bodies of GCC states have successfully published the first regional GHS standard on the occasion of World Environment Day 2022. The standard, entitled GSO 2654:2021 ‘Global Harmonized System (GHS) in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, was developed by GPCA and adopted by GSO with immediate effect on the territories of all six (06) GCC states.
Keeping abreast with the stringent and changing global Regulatory dynamics for chemical products, Freyr can extensively support and provide end-to-end scientific and chemical Regulatory services in the UAE for placing chemical/consumer products in the UAE market.
Freyr Expertise
- Product Classification and Regulatory Guidance.
- Regulatory Strategies for Market Access/Product Launch.
- Develop Product Notification/Registration Strategies.
- Regulatory Applicability Review and Interpretation.
- Prepare Technical Data Files (Specifications, MSDS, Etc.), Including Registration/ Notification Dossiers.
- Application Preparation and Submission for Relevant Introductions and Renewals.
- Sustainability and Packaging Solutions.
- Regulatory Intelligence (RI) Services.
- GB-Based Only Representative (OR) Services.
Freyr Advantages
- Local presence in the market with relevant expertise and experience.
- End-to-end Regulatory consultation for chemical registration (GPCA).
- Easily navigate the complexities of Regulatory Authorities.
- Support for region-specific Regulatory complexities.
- A structured and cost-effective approach to ensure compliance in multi-market scenarios.
- Quick turnarounds and faster time-to-market.
