Philippine exporters of dairy products, cheese, and dairy-containing beverages are advised that the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) has implemented a new mandatory food labelling scheme, the Nutrition Mark (Nutri-Mark), effective 01 June 2025. The new labelling requirement applies to selected food and beverage categories, including cheese, milk-based drinks, flavored beverages, fat emulsions, and foods for children, that are sold in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

Under the new regulation, products must display the Nutri-Mark, a front-of-pack label that indicates the product’s nutritional rating calculated per 100 ml. Specific product categories are detailed in the regulation’s annexes: Annex 2A covers cheese, while Annex 4A covers dairy and plant-based beverages such as drinking yogurt, chocolate milk, flavored milk, and milk drinks with cocoa. A sample of the official Nutri-Mark labels and full regulatory text are available through the WTO Notification at: https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2025/TBT/ARE/25_01157_00_e.pdf. 

Under the new scheme, the responsibility of ensuring proper labelling is with the food business operator under whose name the product is marketed in Abu Dhabi. If the operator is not based in the said Emirate, the importer based in Abu Dhabi shall assume responsibility.  

Philippine exporters are advised to coordinate with their UAE importers to ensure proper implementation of the Nutri-Mark label. Exporters are also encouraged to review their product formulations and packaging to comply with UAE nutritional scoring standards.  

For further inquiries, exporters may contact the DTI-EMB at famd@dti.gov.ph and marketdivision@dti.gov.ph, and/or the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Dubai at dubai@dti.gov.ph.