Ministry of Economy and Tourism hosts workshop to strengthen anti-illicit trade efforts and enhance tobacco product regulation in UAE

Session emphasizes vital role of both individuals and enterprises in ensuring product integrity within established regulatory frameworks

The Ministry of Economy and Tourism hosted an awareness workshop titled “Combating Illicit Tobacco Trade”, focusing on the risks of counterfeit and non-compliant tobacco products and nicotine derivatives. The session brought together federal and local authorities, along with international industry representatives in the UAE, to discuss challenges in tackling illicit trade.

This initiative is part of the Ministry’s broader campaign against fraud, counterfeiting, and illicit trade, aimed at strengthening market oversight and ensuring a fair, secure business environment. It highlighted the damaging effects of non-compliant practices on the economy, presented global standards for monitoring and inspection, and emphasized the shared responsibility of businesses and individuals in supporting regulators to keep the market free of counterfeit and non-compliant products.

The Ministry of Economy and Tourism is strengthening public-private sector collaboration to ensure businesses’ compliance with national laws and regulations. Through rigorous monitoring initiatives, including increased number of inspections across all emirates and enhanced customs surveillance, the Ministry is curbing the spread of counterfeit, imitation, and non-compliant products. These measures are significantly improving market efficiency and consumer protection in the country.

The workshop featured expert-led discussions and specialized presentations examining illicit trade's impact on tobacco products and derivatives. Participants emphasized the importance of establishing transparency principles and regulatory compliance to safeguard the commercial sector from harmful practices, while boosting market competitiveness and stability.

Participants underlined the need to strengthen public awareness and foster self-regulation among businesses and consumers, while expanding coordinated inspection efforts with federal and local authorities. These measures aim to curb counterfeit and substandard goods, safeguarding the integrity of the domestic market.

The workshop examined the UAE's comprehensive regulatory and awareness programs to combat illicit trade and ensure market compliance, recognizing the nation's standing as a regional and global tobacco hub. With 2024 trade volumes reaching AED 14.9 billion in imports, AED 30.3 billion in exports, and AED 4.4 billion in re-exports, there is a critical need to enhance inter-agency cooperation and intensify enforcement measures against illegal trading activities.

The workshop facilitated knowledge-sharing between participants, strengthening public-private sector collaboration to ensure regulatory compliance. Discussions focused on developing mechanisms to promote consumer awareness initiatives and enhance self-regulation across retail establishments and points of sale.

The workshop concluded with participants reviewing key recommendations to strengthen regulatory frameworks, including better federal-local coordination for inspections, advanced tools to detect counterfeits, and greater public awareness of the health and economic risks of illicit tobacco and nicotine products.