The United Arab Emirates has mandated that nicotine pouches undergo ECAS certification.

On January 30, 2025, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued its official gazette Resolution No. 2 of the Cabinet for 2025, requiring that nicotine pouches must comply with the ECAS certification program under the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT). The attached technical regulation for nicotine pouches is UAE.S 5061:2025. Nicotine pouches must comply with this technical regulation. The resolution will come into effect on July 29, 2025. Nicotine pouches must undergo ECAS certification for labels and products. The following are the certification requirements:
ECAS Certification Requirements for Labels and Products:
1. Valid UAE Industrial/Traffic License (including for tobacco and nicotine products);
2. Product labels and warning labels in compliance with UAE.S 5061 standard;
3. Application for ECAS Certification Declaration Document;
4. Ownership of the distributor (applicable only to traders);
5. Product photos. Certification Cycle:

5 working days after receiving compliant materials.

Product ECAS Certification Documents

1. Valid UAE Industrial/Trade License (including for tobacco and nicotine products);

2. UAE.S 5061 test report from an accredited laboratory;

3. Declaration that no modifications or changes to the components or characteristics (including packaging) of the product shall be made without prior notification and approval from MOIAT;

4. List of ingredients, along with a statement explaining the reasons for using these ingredients in the product;

5. Nicotine should come from tobacco, be natural nicotine, and be of the level as per the US Pharmacopeia and European Pharmacopeia;

6. Nicotine dosage and absorption rate when used under normal or expected conditions;

7. Toxicological Risk Assessment (TRA) of product components and packaging materials that come into contact with the product;

8. Process flow chart of production, and a declaration that the production process ensures compliance with the requirements of this technical regulation;

9. Description of nicotine bag components, including any functional elements or parts of the nicotine bag, such as ingredients, bag material, and nicotine content;

10. Declaration that the manufacturer and importer are fully responsible for the quality and safety of the product when it is placed on the market and used under normal or expected conditions.

11. Stability research on product shelf life; 12. Quality management system certificates, such as ISO 9001: Quality Management System - for production facilities, or any other acceptable quality management system; 13. Declaration that the product complies with the testing for child protection packaging; 14. Product labels and illustrations; 15. Physical product drawings; 16. Ownership of the distributor (for merchants only). Certification cycle: 2 working days after receiving the compliance materials.