WAM Dubai, Aug 18th, 2012 (WAM) - Minister of Environment and Water Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahd has stressed the importance of unifying local regulations related to food safety as well as the development of mechanisms and standardized procedures relating to the examination of imported food.

Bin Fahd was speaking while attending the 5th meeting of the Food Safety Committee, which was participated by representatives from Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, Ministry of Health, Dubai Muncipality, Emirates Authority for Standardization '&' Metrology (ESMA) and Fujairah Municipality.

The Minister also emphasised the need for adopting a unified rule for accrediting Islamic Societies and Meat exporters abroad to ensure sanitary conditions and adherence to halal methods.

The meeting discussed registration and classification of food electronically and development of a database of food products imported to the UAE.

The Food Safety Committee was set up to propose policies and strategies to ensure food safety and to propose legislation, technical regulations and standards related to food safety.

WAM/AB