UAE wins final EU nod to export camel milk

The Emirates Industry for Camel Milk & Products (EICMP) has announced that the UAE has received final approval from the European Commission to become the first country in the Middle East to export dairy products to the Europe.

It said in a statement that the EU Commission has ratified the camel milk safety plan presented by EICMP, producer of Camelicious products.

Camelicious products will start to be exported to the 27-country Eurozone following the approval which culminated five years of negotiations.

The company added that it was planning to partner with international companies to use camel milk in other areas such as medicine and beauty products.

The ratification followed several rounds of inspections made by EU Commission delegates to the EICMP factory, the statement added.

Mutasher Al-Badry, deputy general manager and business development manager at EICMP, said: "Camel milk is, without a doubt, one of the best dairy products in the world because of its exceptional health and nutritional value.

"The EU Commission's approval for the export of Camelicious products is a stamp of approval to the quality standards of the UAE in general, and to our company in particular."

He added: "International research on camel milk has resulted in increased global demand for the product, and we will be taking steps to boost production in order to meet that demand, both regionally and globally.

"We also have plans to partner with international companies to utilise camel milk in other areas such as medicine, beauty products, and specialized foods because of its great benefits."

EICMP was established in 2003 and launched its first product in 2006. It is the largest camel milk farm and factory in the world, housing a herd of about 3,000 camels.

Camelicious camel milk is available in both original and flavoured varieties including strawberry, date, saffron, and chocolate.