Economy Ministry Joins Forces with SGS for Enhancement of Consumer Product Safety Regulations
UAE Ministry of Economy and SGS Gulf Limited Partner to Boost Consumer Protection
In a significant move to enhance consumer protection and product safety, the Ministry of Economy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SGS Gulf Limited. This partnership aims to leverage SGS Gulf Limited’s expertise in inspection, verification, testing, and certification services.
The MoU focuses on improving quality control standards across food and various consumer products, such as baby food and cosmetics, to ensure higher safety and reliability for consumers in the UAE. The collaboration is part of broader efforts by the UAE to ensure rigorous quality assurance in the manufacturing and consumer sectors, supporting economic growth and consumer confidence.
SGS Gulf Limited will use its advanced laboratories and global best practices in handling inspections, product testing, and complaint verification for these sensitive items. The agreement is expected to provide a strong boost for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the UAE, as it promotes sound business practices and aims to simplify certification processes, thereby improving access to international markets.
Geraldine Picaud, CEO of SGS Gulf Limited, affirmed the company's commitment to consumer safety. She stated, "We are committed to ensuring the highest safety and quality standards for consumers in the UAE. This partnership with the Ministry of Economy is a significant step towards achieving that goal."
The MoU includes awareness programs for the food and beverage, cosmetics, and general consumer product sectors, targeting educational institutions to foster product safety among youth. The partnership also sets a framework for collaboration in verifying consumer complaints.
The signing ceremony was attended by Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Economy, and Geraldine Picaud, CEO of SGS Gulf Limited. The event was also graced by the presence of Swiss Ambassador Arthur Mattli and senior SGS representatives.
This strategic move by the UAE’s Ministry of Economy aligns with its broader strategy to reinforce regulatory frameworks and promote sound business practices in the UAE. The MoU aims to enhance oversight of food and consumer goods in local markets, foster a safer purchasing environment, and support the competitiveness of the UAE’s business environment. The MoU was publicly announced in July 2025, with accompanying events such as the SGS Food Forum 2025 held in Dubai to showcase the initiative and foster stakeholder engagement.
- The partnership between the UAE's Ministry of Economy and SGS Gulf Limited emphasizes collaboration in ensuring safety and reliability for consumers, particularly in food and consumer products such as baby food and cosmetics.
- SGS Gulf Limited's expertise will be utilized to improve quality control standards through advanced laboratories and global best practices, especially benefiting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the UAE.
- Awareness programs for food, beverage, cosmetics, and general consumer product sectors will be implemented, targeting educational institutions to cultivate product safety among the youth.
- The UAE aims to reinforce regulatory frameworks and promote sound business practices through this MoU, thereby enhancing oversight of food and consumer goods in local markets, fostering a safer purchasing environment, and supporting the competitiveness of the UAE’s business environment.
- The UAE's strategy of reinforcing regulatory frameworks and promoting sound business practices, as demonstrated by the MoU, is set to be showcased at the SGS Food Forum 2025 in Dubai, encouraging stakeholder engagement.
