Conditions and Requirements to Obtain Emirates Quality Mark for Drinking Water
The UAE started regulating the sale of drinking water (bottled water) from 2013 onwards to ensure the safety and well being of the general public. The importers, manufacturers and sellers need to conduct product registration in the UAE before placing their drinking water products on the market. Emirates Authority for Standardisation & Metrology (ESMA) is the competent authority that regulates the import, manufacture and sale of drinking water products in the UAE.
Businesses need to comply with the regulations set out by the ESMA to be eligible for the UAE market entry. ESMA will issue an Emirates Quality Mark (EQM), which proves that bottled water is safe for public consumption. Bottled water products that do not bear the EQM will be considered fake products and will be taken off from the market or rejected during shipment (for imports). The consequences also include hefty penalties. Product registration agents in Dubai can help you avoid such consequences by helping your products to comply with ESMA standards.
In this article, we have described the conditions, requirements and process of obtaining an EQM for bottled drinking water products from ESMA. Read ahead.
Emirates Quality Mark & Scope of Products
EQM is a mark of conformity granted to products that comply with relevant UAE national standards, local/regional standards and international standards. EQM is granted to products that are manufactured by companies that have implemented an effective Quality Management system to ensure compliance. The following are the categories of drinking water products that fall within the scope of the EQM process.
Bottled Drinking Water
Treated drinking water intended for human consumption, bottled in suitable tightly sealed containers and complying with all the requirements mentioned in (UAE.S GSO 1025).
Natural Mineral Water
A type of water, which is distinguishable from ordinary Drinking water (UAE.S GSO 1025). It is obtained directly from natural or drilled sources as part of underground water-bearing strata, for which due precautions should be taken to avoid possible pollution affecting its chemical and physical properties.
Mandatory Schemes and Applicable Standards
The scheme applicable for registering drinking water products in the UAE is the Scheme to Control Water No. 26 of the year 2013. You must also remember that the requirements may vary depending on the scope of certified products. Food safety management, environmental issues, and the safety of electrical appliances used are some of the most important criteria that manufacturers are required to adhere to before they are permitted to distribute their products in the UAE. Applicants can consult with product registration agents in Dubai for more details.
Registration Requirements
The applicants should be ready with the following information before applying to register their products with the ESMA.
- Valid UAE Industry/Trade License. (or declaration or accountability)
- Registration certificate for Industrial Measurement System
- Test Report from Accredited laboratory
- Controlled Copy of relevant QMS/HACCP Manual.
- Brief Description of Manufacturing Process
- Plant Equipment Layout
- Vicinity Map of the Factory
- Fulfil the requirements of the card Label
- Quality control plan
- Evidence of Approval from other Conformity Assessment Bodies
- Distributor ownership (for Traders only )
- Electronic Declaration of Conformity.
- Fees
Contents of the Application
The process of ESMA product registration in the UAE starts with filing the applications. The applications should contain the following information:
- Type of Product to be certified: Product to identify the related scheme implemented by ESMA
- Relevant standard/ or normative documents clients are seeking certification for.
- Information about applicant’s business activities & related business facilities
- Any other information needed to be related to certification requirements.
Once the application is received, ESMA will carry out on-site assessments to check if the factory complies with standards such as Food Safety and Management System (FSMS) and other ESMA require me there isn’t any non-compliance, the applicant will be allowed to use the EQM. Trying to sell bottled water without EQM or if any other non-compliance is reported, the applicant may face penalties in the range of AED 30,000 to AED 100,000.
How can Jitendra Intellectual Property Help You?
Manufacturers and traders of bottled drinking water must conduct product registration in the UAE and obtain EQM from ESMA to legally distribute their products in the country. Those who fail to comply with ESM standards will incur hefty penalties and their products will be taken off the market. The assistance of the best product registration agents in Dubai will come in handy for the businesses to ensure their products comply with ESMA standards.
Jitendra Intellectual Property (JIP) is an IP firm that offers the best product registration services in Dubai, UAE. Our product registration agents will help you through all the steps of registration including application, assessment, and labelling. Consult with JIP today to ensure the success of your venture in the UAE.