The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has issued Decision No. 27 of 2026 on regulating the field of animal development and health in the country, setting out the health and technical requirements that must be met by various veterinary facilities.
The decision aims to raise the efficiency of veterinary services, enhance the quality of animal healthcare, and ensure the application of best practices and approved professional standards, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of the animal health sector.
The ministry noted that the decision applies to veterinary facilities operating in the country, including veterinary hospitals, fixed and mobile veterinary clinics, artificial insemination centres, fixed and mobile veterinary laboratories, as well as scientific and advisory veterinary offices. It seeks to unify operating standards and ensure that services are delivered in accordance with the highest levels of quality and safety.
The decision sets out a range of professional obligations that facilities must comply with, chief among them being the requirement to carry out only the activities for which the veterinary facility is licensed, the mandatory presence of a licensed veterinarian during the provision of services, the restriction of professional practice to veterinary staff holding the necessary licences, and the prohibition of any therapeutic or diagnostic practices or procedures that are inconsistent with the nature of the facility's licensed activity.
The decision also obliges facilities to adhere to a number of regulatory controls, including obtaining prior approval from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the competent authorities before relocating the facility or changing its activity.
Additionally, a prior licence from the Emirates Pharmaceutical Establishment must be obtained when handling or using biological samples in accordance with approved controls.
The decision further emphasises a ban on the sale or trading of live animals, their products, or their by-products within veterinary facilities, ensuring a clear separation between therapeutic services and commercial activities.