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The new law supports the UAE’s strategic direction in conserving biodiversity, strengthening legal protection for endangered animal and plant species, and regulating their international trade in line with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The legislation replaces Federal Law No. 11 of 2002 on regulating and controlling international trade in endangered species, which remained in force for more than 22 years without amendment. The updated framework responds to developments in endangered species protection, reinforces the UAE’s compliance with CITES requirements, and enhances enforcement effectiveness by granting broader executive powers to the national administrative authority. This enables timely regulatory action, stronger oversight, and expanded legal protection in line with periodic amendments to CITES appendices and procedures.
The law introduces updated and precise definitions for key terms such as endangered species, pre-convention specimens, falcon passport, shipment, and phytosanitary certificate, while revising existing terminology to align with the UAE’s legislative drafting framework. Its provisions apply across all UAE territories, including free zones, covering specimens and endangered species listed in the annexes attached to the law and any subsequent amendments.
The law prohibits the import, export, re-export, transit, or introduction from the sea of any endangered specimens through all UAE border points, reinforcing national sovereignty over border controls and preventing regulatory circumvention. It defines the competencies of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment as the national administrative authority responsible for implementation, enforcement, combating illegal trade, issuing certificates, and setting conditions for their issuance. New powers include the authority to dispose of seized specimens pursuant to judicial rulings and to suspend transit or seize specimens in cases of missing or inconsistent documentation.
Penalties have been significantly strengthened, with fines ranging from AED30,000 to AED2 million and custodial penalties of up to four years in certain cases. Violators must bear all associated costs, including seizure, transport, care, storage, and disposal, with mandatory deportation for repeat foreign offenders.
Veterinary quarantine is recognised as the first line of defence against the spread of infectious animal diseases, contributing to public health protection, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem preservation, and national food security.
The new Veterinary Quarantine Law replaces Federal Law No. 6 of 1979, which remained in force for 45 years. It aligns national legislation with international animal health standards and enhances oversight of animal consignments imported into, exported from, or transiting the UAE. The law updates definitions to include veterinary quarantine procedures, veterinary health certificates, animal waste, animal feed, and border entry points, and applies to all animal consignments.
The law empowers authorities to adopt precautionary measures such as import bans and temporary quarantine restrictions based on scientific indicators or international alerts related to transboundary animal diseases, including emerging diseases and those listed by the World Organisation for Animal Health. Animal consignments may only enter through approved border entry points, within an integrated veterinary quarantine system covering inspection, quarantine, and disposal.
Agricultural quarantine is highlighted as a critical safeguard against pests and diseases affecting food security, public health, environmental protection, and international agricultural trade.
The new Agricultural Quarantine Law replaces Federal Law No. 5 of 1979, modernising the framework to align with amendments to the International Plant Protection Convention and reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global hub for agricultural trade. Updated terminology includes phytosanitary regulations, regulated articles, pests, quarantine pests, beneficial organisms, and phytosanitary certificates, with provisions applying to all relevant imports, exports, and transit items. Penalties now include fines of up to AED500,000 and mandatory deportation for repeat foreign offenders.
The Law on the Protection of New Plant Varieties aims to safeguard breeders’ rights, encourage agricultural innovation, and enhance food and biosecurity. It replaces Federal Law No. 17 of 2009 and aligns national legislation with international best practices set by the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants.
The law establishes a Register for the Protection of New Plant Varieties within the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and defines the Registrar’s competencies. It broadens the definition of breeder and grants protection to varieties that are new, distinct, uniform, and stable, with protection periods of 20 years, or 25 years for vines and trees. The law revises novelty requirements, extends protection to all plant genera and species, clarifies standards of distinctness and uniformity, and imposes penalties of up to three years’ imprisonment and fines of up to AED250,000 for violations.
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