Khaleej Times, 18 January 2023: UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) has issued a ministerial decision regulating the trade of recycled plastic water bottles in line with top public health and food safety standards.

The new decision, which was announced at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2023 allows the use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) produced at MoIAT-approved recycling facilities that have obtained a certificate of conformity as per the UAE Regulation for Control on Food Contact Material.

The Under-Secretary of MoIAT has stated that the new decision aligns with the ministry’s strategic objectives to enhance quality infrastructure and the industrial sector’s contribution to the national economy. This is projected to reduce carbon emissions, enhance the national in-country value by 80 – 300 million Dh annually, and create jobs.

Representatives of the National Food Safety Committee, UAE’s Food and Beverage Manufacturers Group, food and recycling experts and researchers were consulted to ensure the containers were safe to use as water bottles.

The decision Recycling facilities must provide documents proving their adoption of an effective quality control system and good manufacturing practices for materials that come into contact with food.

These include a report from an accredited lab in the UAE testifying that the recycled product has passed a safety test and a report indicating the compliance of the bottled water with health and safety requirements.

They must also do migration tests for packaging materials in accordance with applicable technical regulations and obtain a risk assessment report for the quality and safety of the recycled raw materials intended for use when bottling drinking water.

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