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Do I need ESMA / ECAS / EQM / Halal? And what does it cost?
Pick the product family and a few details → mandatory, conditional and voluntary certificates, issuing body, official vs reported fees, and timelines.
1. Product family
2. Details that change the answer
Packaged / processed food: 1 mandatory certificate
Packaged / processed food · Imported
MandatoryHealth certificate from the country of origin
Required for imported food consignments at port clearance (issued or endorsed by the exporting country's competent authority).
Issuer: Competent food authority in the exporting country
Reported fees: Set by the exporting authority (usually nominal).
Not requiredECAS / EQM conformity certificate
Not on the mandatory list for this family as of the review date — product registration + Arabic label are the gate, not a conformity certificate. Re-check MoIAT if the formulation is unusual.
Issuer: —
Notes
- ESMA was merged into MoIAT; "ESMA certificate" and "ECAS certificate" refer to the same MoIAT scheme.
Guidance: official fees from MoIAT's published pages; "reported" ranges come from consultants and certification bodies and are not official. Mandatory lists change — the competent authority is the final reference.
Sources (reviewed 2026-09-24): MoIAT — conformity certificates for regulated products (fees) · MoIAT — Halal programme (Cabinet Decree 10/2014; UAE.S 2055 series) · Intertek — ECAS/EQM for cosmetics & perfumery · Cotecna — EQM mandatory for bottled drinking water · ADAFSA — importer guide (health & halal certificates) · Halal certification cost ranges (consultant-reported)
Frequently asked
What is the difference between ESMA, ECAS and EQM?
ESMA (the standards authority) was merged into MoIAT. ECAS is MoIAT's mandatory conformity-certificate scheme for regulated products; EQM (Emirates Quality Mark) is the quality mark that requires product tests plus a factory quality-system audit. Both are issued through MoIAT-notified bodies.
How much does an ECAS certificate cost?
MoIAT's published fees are AED 600 for the registration request, AED 620 technical review per certificate and AED 500 issuance (about AED 1,720), plus AED 2,500 per assessor-day if a site assessment is required. Notified-body testing and audit fees are quoted separately. Certificates are valid for one year.
Which products need the Emirates Quality Mark?
Bottled drinking water and natural mineral water must carry the EQM before sale, for local producers and importers alike. For most juices, soft drinks and many dairy items it is voluntary — check the current MoIAT list for your exact family.
Do I need a halal certificate to import food into the UAE?
Meat, poultry and products with animal-derived ingredients need halal evidence from a certification body on the MoIAT register (Cabinet Decree 10/2014, UAE.S 2055-1, slaughter per UAE.S 993). The Halal National Mark logo itself is optional for most products.