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3.60. (...) WTO Members raised concerns regarding a few draft standards as they continued to be discussed by GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) members [64]. [64] At more recent TBT meetings, especially the GCC Technical Regulations for the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (IMS ID 572) and Halal Feedstuff (IMS ID 643) were discussed.

3.64. Although harmonized across the seven Emirates, labelling requirements are defined at the emirate level and apply to toys, tobacco products, food, chemical products, industrial products, drinking water, textiles, and cosmetics. (...) Electrical household products also require a mandatory "green product" energy and water efficiency label issued by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT). (...)

3.67. Over the review period, the institutional national framework for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures remained broadly unchanged, but the authorities issued several by laws, ministerial decrees, and administrative measures to improve its implementation [71]. [71] Key applicable laws are (...); Federal Law No. 5 of 2009 on Organic Inputs and Products; Federal Law No. 9 of 2013 on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture; and Federal Law No. 10 of 2015 on Food Safety.

3.68. The WTO focal point on SPS issues is the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), renamed from the Ministry of Environment and Water to underline the Government's commitment to tackle climate change. (...).

3.74. (...) for plant imports, several laws and decrees set out specific requirements in addition to Federal Law No. 5 of 1979 Concerning Agricultural Quarantine [84]. (...). [84] These include (...), and Federal Law No. 9 of 2013 on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

3.76. Importation and circulation of organic food inputs and products are regulated by Federal Law No. 5 of 2009 on Organic Inputs and Products and Ministerial Decree No. 768 of 2014. Under the 2012 organic certification scheme, registration and issuance of a conformity certificate for organic products are available for crops, livestock, and processed food. Products marketed as "organic" require certification by ESMA under the Emirates Organic Foods Certification Scheme, independent of their origin. The UAE recognizes 10 international organic standards as equivalent to the UAE ones, which are from Australia, Canada, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

3.77. Importation and registration of pesticides are governed by Federal Law No. 10 of 2020 and Ministerial Decision No. 27 of 2018. Labelling is mandatory for unprocessed agricultural products, processed food products, or feed products or seed that contain more than 1% genetically modified ingredients. Any genetically modified product must be approved for use in the country of origin for human or animal consumption.

3.82. The Competition Law applies to natural or legal persons, or a combination thereof, engaging in economic activities or exploiting intellectual property rights in the UAE. Economic activities carried out abroad but affecting competition in the UAE are also subject to the Competition Law (Article 3). The following activities and entities are explicitly excluded from the application of the Competition Law (Article 4):
• activities subject to sector-specific laws or sectoral regulators: (...) waste disposal, and environmental services; (...)

3.123. The Government actively promotes the participation of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in federal procurement. A price preference of 10% is granted to bids by UAE companies that receive support from SME funds under federal or local laws, provided that their capital does not exceed AED 10 million. The same price preference is given to "green" companies and to bids offering "green" goods and services produced or manufactured in the UAE.

3.124. The UAE also provides a 10% set-aside of federal procurement for SMEs. Federal entities are required to indicate in their annual procurement plans the goods and services that can be provided by suppliers who benefit from SME support funds [126]. (...) [126] Cabinet Resolution No. 4 of 2019, Article 18. This provision also requires federal entities to indicate in their annual procurement plans the goods and services that can be provided by green companies and companies contributing to social responsibilities.