Are you a plant enthusiast looking to start a nursery? Or perhaps you're a trader involved in importing and exporting seeds or bees? In the UAE, engaging in any agricultural activity requires a license from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. You can apply for this license through their official website, after logging in via UAE Pass. Once your application is submitted and the fees are paid, an inspection of your establishment may be conducted for certain agricultural activities. If you're renewing your license and the location of your activity hasn't changed, an inspection is not necessary. Here's a guide detailing the activities that require a license, the necessary documents, and the associated fees.

Activities Covered:

With an agricultural license, you can engage in the following activities:

- Establishing a plant nursery
- Agricultural consulting facility
- Agricultural pest control
- Agricultural extension
- Import and export of seeds
- Import and export of bees
- Import and export of Agarwood and its products
- Import and export of plants and seedlings
- Pesticide trade
- Fertilizers and agricultural conditioners trade
- Manufacturing of fertilizers and agricultural conditioners
- Accreditation of a unit for production and trading of farm waste fertilizers

Documents Required:

- Commercial license, trade name, or professional license and partners annex (for all establishments)
- Copy of lease or ownership of the activity site (for pesticides, fertilizers, and agricultural conditioners trading establishments; manufacturing fertilizers and agricultural conditioners; and unit for production and trading of farm waste fertilizers)
- A map of the nursery showing the area and location (for agricultural nursery establishments)
- A copy of a valid lease contract for the activity site, or proof of ownership of the site (for agricultural nursery establishments)
- Environment permit issued by the competent environmental authority (for manufacturing fertilizers and agricultural conditioners, and unit for production and trading of farm waste fertilizers)

If you already hold an agricultural license and wish to add or remove an activity, you will need a commercial, professional, or industrial license or trade name indicating the activity to be added or removed.

Fees:

- Dh500 - Issuance or annual renewal of approval licenses to practice agricultural activities
- Dh1500 - Issuance or annual renewal of license to establish a nursery
- Dh5000 - Issuance or annual renewal of license to manufacture fertilizers and agricultural conditioners
- Dh200 - Request for analysis of a water, soil, or plant sample (if service provided)
- No fees - accreditation of unit for production and trading of farm waste

Points to Note:

For pesticide and fertilizer trade facilities:

- An agricultural engineer with a practicing license must be present
- The storage area must be well-ventilated
- The warehouse should be far from residential areas
- The floor in the storage area shall be well insulated to prevent moisture leakage and to keep the flooring dry.
- Fire extinguishers and first aid should be available in the storage area.

For manufacturing of fertilizers and agricultural conditioners:

- An agricultural engineer with a practicing license must be present
- Fertilizers and soil conditioners stores must be shaded, well ventilated, and equipped with the required safety devices. They must also meet all requirements issued by the relevant authorities
- Raw materials should be stored separately from other products
- Imported raw materials must only be used for the purposes of manufacturing and producing fertilizers and soil conditioners
- Records must be used to document all raw materials used, all types produced, their quantities, and their circulation for the purpose of follow-up and tracking. Records should be kept for a period of no less than 5 years and submitted to the Ministry upon request
- The generated waste must be disposed of in accordance with the Federal Law No. (24) of 1999 regarding the Protection and Development of the Environment and its amending laws and its by-law
- No production, manufacturing, or trade should be conducted before registration of the product

Accreditation of a unit for production and trading of farm waste:

- The fertilizers and soil conditioners must comply with the requirements and technical specifications referred to in the Ministerial Decree No. (784) of 2015.
- The products must be registered according to the requirements of the above decree
- Records must be used to document all raw materials used, all types produced, their quantities, and their circulation for the purpose of follow-up and tracking. This must be done for a period of not less than 5 years and submitted to the Ministry upon request.

Agricultural consulting facilities:

- The presence of an agricultural engineer with a practicing license and experience in the field of agricultural consultancy

Plant nurseries:

- The area of the nursery should not be less than 2 dunums (1 dunum is equivalent to 1,000 sq metres)
- The location of the nursery should be close to the roads
- Basic facilities such as office room, storeroom, and toilet must be present
- The nursery soil should be suitable for cultivation and free from soil pests
- The irrigation water in the nursery should be suitable for irrigation of cultivated plants
- The presence of an agricultural engineer or agricultural technician with a practicing license