In application of the provisions of this Resolution, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings ascribed thereto, unless the context requires otherwise:
State: The United Arab Emirates.
Ministry: Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology.
Minister: Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology.
Authorised Entity: Any Governmental Entity, whether Federal, Local or Private, officially authorised by the Ministry to carry out any of its tasks and powers stipulated in the provisions hereof.
Metrological Confirmation: Conduct a Conformity Assessment that results in the installation of a Confirmation Mark and the issuance of a Confirmation certificate.
Legal Metrological Control: All activities of legal metrology, including Legal Control of Measuring Devices, metrological supervision, metrological expertise and all operations for examination and proof.
Pre-Packages: A pre-packaged product refers to an item contained in a can or any other form of packaging, with its nominal or actual quantity determined and clearly stated on the label prior to sale or without the buyer being present. The actual quantity within such packaging cannot be altered without opening it or making a noticeable modification. A pre-package comprises both the product itself and its packaging material.
Product: Any product in its final form intended for consumer use or consumption in the Pre-package to which the provisions hereof apply.
Calibration: The processes conducted to define the efficiency and accuracy of Measuring Devices and Tools.
Legal Measurement Units: Measurement units that shall be used exclusively in the specified fields approved by the Ministry and stipulated in the Technical Regulations for Legal Units of Measurement.
Supplier: Anyone whose activity affects the characteristics of the product, whether the manufacturer, importer, transporter, assembler, agent, warehouse keeper, or any primary or secondary distributor, or any legal representative responsible for the import, supply, and use of products subject to the provisions hereof, and who operates through a company or licensed sole establishment in the country in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Consumer: The natural or legal person who purchases the Pre-packages for the purpose of consuming, using, or reselling it.
Inspector: The legal metrology inspector at the Ministry or the authorised entity tasked with the inspection of the containers covered hereby.
Card: Any writing, printing, or drawings affixed, attached, or engraved on the pre-package, in any manner, used to identify the product or describe it or provide information about it or its components.
Packaging Material: Any part of the can intended to be discarded after the product has been used or consumed, excluding components that are part of the product. Packaging material is generally used to contain, preserve, handle, protect, transport the product, and carry related information, serving as a supportive material during its use.
Packages With a Fixed Nominal Value: These are Packages in which the actual quantity of the product inside can be easily adjusted to match the nominal quantity indicated thereon.
Packages With a Variable Nominal Value: Packages where the actual quantity of the product inside cannot be easily adjusted to match the nominal quantity, such as Packages of chicken, fish, certain fruits, and others.
Quantity: The weight, volume, length, area, or number of units of the product in a single package.
Nominal Quantity: The quantity indicated on the product label inside the Pre-packages, which is believed to be contained without the packaging material. In the case of products preserved in a liquid medium, the nominal quantity also excludes the liquid medium to be disposed of.
Actual Quantity: It is the quantity of the product inside the Package, excluding the packaging material.
Liquid Medium: Water or aqueous solutions of salt or brine, or aqueous solutions of food acids, vinegar, or aqueous solutions of sugar, or aqueous solutions of other sweetening agents, or fruit and vegetable juices, which may be in a mixture when gradually frozen or rapidly frozen, where the liquid is an adjunct to the essential components of the preparation and not a decisive factor for the purchasing process.
Inspection Batch: The quantity of Pre-packages that have the same nominal quantity, type, batch number, manufacturer or packer, and packing location, and are subject to testing or inspection.
Number of Samples: The number of Pre-packages randomly selected from the homogeneous batch subject to inspection for the purpose of examining and determining the compliance of the inspection batch with the mandatory requirements specified herein.
Sampling: The process of selecting a sample from Pre-packages randomly, where all samples have the same probability of being chosen.
Minimum Allowed Product: It is the nominal quantity minus the permissible shortage of the product within a single package.
Deficient Package: Any package in which the actual quantity is less than the minimum allowed content.
Allowed Deficiency in the Nominal Quantity per Single Package (T1): The permissible amount of deficiency in the actual quantity compared to the nominal quantity for the package.
Misleading Package: A Package that is manufactured, shaped, displayed, labelled, or filled in a way that may mislead the consumer in determining the actual quantity inside, and which contains an exaggerated non-functional void. This applies to Pre-packages where the consumer cannot clearly see the product inside.
Non-Destructive Tests: Tests conducted on Pre-packages without opening the package or damaging the packaging.
Destructive Tests: Tests conducted on Pre-packages that result in opening the can or damaging the packaging.
Slack-Fill: The difference between the actual capacity of the container and the volume of the product contained therein.
Ineffective Slack-Fill: The void space in Pre-packages when they are filled to less than their capacity without any justification.
Conformity Mark: A distinctive mark placed on the pre-package to indicate that the inspection batch complies with all the requirements outlined herein and in the relevant legislations.
Longitudinal Weight: The method of expressing the nominal quantity in which the weight per length unit is determined, using the approved units of measurement for weight and length.

This resolution aims to protect consumer rights and enhance the quality and competitiveness of products in national factories by ensuring that both imported and locally manufactured Pre-packages comply with local and international regulations and standards related to the quantity of the product in Pre-packages.

This resolution applies to pre-packages with fixed or variable nominal values, intended for direct sale in the state using the legally approved units of measurement for weight, volume, length, area, or number. It includes packages that are manufactured, imported, or locally filled, with the following exceptions:
1. Pre-packages used for specialised professional purposes only and are sold exclusively to professionals; 
2. Pre-packages designated for military purposes; 
3. Pre-packages designated for educational purposes; 
4. Pre-packaged pharmaceutical and medicinal containers; and 
5. Any products excluded by a resolution of the Minister.

1. Label Card:
a. The label shall be affixed to the Pre-package in a way that is non-removable, written in clear text, and placed on the main side of the package when displayed in the usual manner, in a location separate from other information. The label shall include at least the following information: 

1. The product name and the commercial name of the product. The product name may be omitted if the product is wrapped in transparent material and is commonly recognised by the consumer. However, the product name shall be clear and not cause any confusion or mislead the consumer in any way; 
2. All information necessary to trace the Pre-packages from the consumer to the packer, importer, or manufacturer; 
3. The nominal quantity; 
4. The unit of measurement; and 
5. Any other mandatory information required by the technical regulations relevant with the product. 

b. When the quantity statement is in terms of weight, volume, length, area, or number, and is not sufficient to provide the consumer with complete information, the manufacturer, packer, or importer shall provide sufficient and clear information about the quantities of the product (e.g., longitudinal weight, concentration per unit of volume or mass). 
c. The following words and expressions shall be avoided when stating the nominal quantity of the product: 

1. Minimum; 
2. Not less than; 
3. Average; 
4. Approximately; 
5. Nearly; or 
6. Any other words of a similar nature. 

d. In the case of Pre-packages bearing the phrase "economical package" or similar, the actual quantity of the product shall be clear to the consumer. 
e. If the pre-package contains more than one label distributed in different locations on the can, the requirements for the product label shall comply with the provisions hereof and the relevant regulations.
f. Pre-packages may bear their own conformity mark, provided that they meet the mandatory requirements for this mark. 
g. The label shall be in Arabic, and any other language may be used unless the technical regulations or specific instructions for the product state otherwise. 
h. In addition to the label requirements outlined herein, the label shall also meet the mandatory requirements specified in the technical regulations for the label or the product itself. 
i. The value of the nominal quantity shall be followed by the unit of measurement, and the minimum height of the numbers and letters used on the package shall not be less than the values specified in Table (1) attached hereto. The font may be of the largest possible size. 
j. The ministry or the authorised entity may request the manufacturer, packager, or importer to remove, add, or modify any information on the label in a manner that ensures better consumer protection or eliminates any confusion.
k. The nominal quantity shall be expressed in whole numbers (e.g., 1 kg, 2 kg) or decimal numbers (e.g., 0.5 kg, 1.5 kg), and it shall not be written in fractional form (e.g., 1/2 kg or 1/2 1 kg). 
l. Quantities less than one unit shall be written with a maximum of three decimal places. 
m. If the quantity of the product is written on the label without being preceded by any other phrases such as "net weight" or "net volume," etc., then this quantity is considered to be the nominal quantity subject to metrological control. 
n. In solid products preserved in liquids, the drained weight shall be clearly stated. 
o. For products packaged in pressurised cans and dispensed as a spray, the nominal value of the product shall be equal to the amount of the liquid phase contained in the package. 
p. If the Pre-packages contain a specific number of identical items (e.g., (5) cans of table salt or (10) cans of sugar), or non-identical products (e.g., a large can containing smaller cans of salt, sugar, and spices) that cannot be sold separately from each other, the label shall clearly state the number of these items and the nominal quantity of each, or the total nominal quantity of the product, ensuring that the label clearly reflects this without any ambiguity. 
q. If liquid products are packed in transparent packages with graduated markings that indicate the actual quantity inside, and the consumer can see the product inside under normal conditions, with graduations and accuracy that meet the mandatory requirements, the nominal quantity may be omitted from the label. 

2. Measurement Units: 
a. The legal units of measurement and their symbols shall be used correctly when expressing the quantity of the product in the pre-package. 
b. The nominal quantity shall be expressed in mass units for solid, viscous, bulk products, and products consisting of a mixture of solid and liquid products, as well as the solid part in a mixture of solid and liquid products. The nominal quantity of liquid materials shall also be expressed in volume units at a reference temperature of (20°C). 
c. Liquid products may be sold by mass unit or solid products by volume unit if it is the common trade practice, provided that it ensures better consumer protection. 
d. The nominal quantity shall be expressed using the units and symbols approved in the Technical Regulations for Legal Measurement Units as outlined in Table (2) attached hereto, or a combination of these units as case may be. 
e. The general rules for writing legal measurement units shall be observed according to their specifications and technical regulations, especially the following rules: 

1. There shall be a single gap between the value of the nominal quantity and the unit of measurement; and 
2. The plural form shall not be used when using the symbols for legal units of measurement, nor shall the letter "s" be used after the unit symbol when using a language other than Arabic. 

3. Requirements for Verifying the Quantity of the Product in Pre-packages:
a. Criteria for rejection and acceptance: 

1. The average actual quantity of the products shall not be less than the nominal quantity. 
2. The number of deficient packages in the inspection batch shall not exceed the values specified in Table (4) attached hereto. 
3. The inspection batch shall not contain any package in which the amount of deficiency exceeds twice the allowed deficiency from the nominal quantity of a single can (2xT1), as specified in Table (3) attached hereto. 

b. Inspection Batch Requirements and Sampling:

1. When ready samples are taken from the production line, the size of the inspection batch shall be equal to the maximum production capacity per hour, with no limitations on the batch size. 
2. When samples of pre-packages are taken from the company production facility (not the production line), the size of the inspection batch shall be equal to the maximum production capacity per hour or 100,000 samples, whichever is smaller. 
3. If samples of the cans are taken at the packaging facilities where the actual hourly production rate or the original batch size is unknown, data shall be obtained from the representative of the inspected facility. The maximum production limit shall not exceed 100,000 samples, and the batch shall be homogeneous. In general, the legal metrology inspector shall take samples in proportion to the production size. 
4. Table (4) attached hereto specifies the minimum sample size required for inspection, the acceptable number of samples with an error (T1), and the correction factor for the samples. 

c. The legal metrological control on the actual quantities of pre-packages shall be carried out as follows: 

1. Sampling from supplier warehouses, whether from the end of the production line, storage location, or point of sale; and
2. Quality control records.

d. Legal metrological control on the actual quantities of pre-packages shall be conducted according to the following situations: 

1. Inspection programme plans by authorised entities for locally manufactured or packaged and imported products. In this case, the fees related to metrological services, as stipulated by the applicable regulations in the ministry, shall be collected; 
2. Upon request from the supplier, and in this case, the fees related to metrological services, as stipulated by the applicable regulations in the ministry, shall be collected; and 
3. In response to complaints received by the ministry or the authorised entity, or as part of surprise inspection plans, with no fees charged unless non-compliant materials are detected. In such cases, the manufacturer, packer, or importer is liable for the fees related to metrological services, as stipulated by the applicable regulations in the ministry. 

e. Tests shall be conducted either at the inspection site or by collecting samples and sending them to laboratories accredited by the ministry or the authorised entity.
f. The actual quantity shall be determined with the consideration of the following: 

1. When determining the actual volume of liquid contained in the container, the liquid volume shall be calculated at a temperature of (20°C); 
2. If the product is preserved in a liquid medium to be removed, the actual quantity of the product shall be the amount of the product in the pre-package after reaching equilibrium in the solution preparation process and after filtering the liquid medium; 
3. In the case of frozen products, the actual quantity shall refer to the product excluding the packaging material, ice, and frost; 
4. Protective gas or air shall not be considered part of the actual quantity of the product; 
5. When calculating the actual volume using the gravimetric method and using weights with a density of (8) g/mL, the actual volume of the product can be practically calculated using the following equation:

6. For the purposes of determining the actual weight of products packed in a liquid medium and the weight of frozen products, the annexes in the specification (OIML R87) shall be referenced. 

g. Legal metrological control on pre-packages shall be carried out in two ways:

1. Non-destructive testing method: This is the generally used method, except when the standard deviation (10) for ten empty packages is equal to or exceeds (20%) twenty percent of the permissible shortage from the nominal quantity of a single package (T1); and 
2. Destructive testing method: This method is used when it is not possible to conduct tests using the non-destructive method. 

h. The empty weight of the package shall be determined as follows: 

1. If the legal metrological control on pre-packages is conducted at the packaging site, (10) ten empty containers shall be taken, and the arithmetic mean and standard deviation for them shall be calculated; and 
2. If the standard deviation is less than (20%) twenty percent of the permissible deficiency from the nominal quantity of a single package (T1), this value shall be adopted for all empty packages in the batch. Otherwise, the empty weight for each individual package shall be calculated after it is emptied of its product. 

i. The number of deficient packages shall be calculated according to the values specified in Table (3) attached hereto, by subtracting the permissible deficiency for the package from the nominal quantity. Any sample containing less than this value shall be considered a deficient package. 
j. When calculating the permissible deficiency in the package resulting from the use of the percentage, the following cases should be considered: 

1. If the nominal quantity is less than or equal to (1,000) grams, millilitres, or any declared unit of volume or dimensions, the values shall be rounded up by (0.1) for containers packed by weight, volume, length, or area. For containers packed by count, the result shall be rounded to the next whole number; and 
2. If the nominal quantity is greater than (1,000) grams, millilitres, or any declared unit of volume or dimensions, the values shall be rounded to the next whole number. 

k. The number of pre-packages in which the deficiency exceeds twice the permissible deficiency shall be calculated according to Table (3) attached hereto. 
l. An estimated value may be added to the permissible deficiency in a single package due to the following circumstances: 

1. Variables caused by deviations that cannot be avoided in measuring the actual quantity, which may occur during the filling process; 
2. Variables caused by weather conditions during transportation, storage, and display of the packages under acceptable conditions for preserving these packages; and 
3. Variables due to the nature of the packed material or the package. 

m. The actual quantity may be measured directly using weighing machines or volume instruments, or indirectly, as in the case of liquids, by determining the weight and density of the liquid. Regardless of the method used, the error resulting from measuring the actual quantity shall not exceed (20%) of the permissible deficiency for the pre-packages. 
n. Legal metrological control on pre-packages with variable nominal quantities shall be conducted in the same manner as control on packages with fixed nominal quantities, except for testing the actual quantity rate of the pre-packages. 
o. In the case of legal metrological control on pre-packages available in markets, or control on imported packages from which sampling is difficult due to the low number of containers in the imported batch, or due to the inability to conduct non-destructive tests, or due to the lack of capacity to conduct tests at the appropriate speed, random samples shall be collected to the minimum possible extent from each type, for example. The entire batch is considered non-compliant in the following cases: 

1. If one or more pre-packages are found with a deficiency exceeding twice the permissible one; 
2. If the pre-packages do not meet the mandatory requirements for the label; and 
3. If it is proven that the actual quantity rate in the pre-packages is less than the nominal quantity, after collecting expanded samples of no less than (20) twenty containers. 

    
4. Misleading Packages 
a. The capacities of the pre-packages used shall accommodate the actual quantities without creating ineffective slack-fills, provided that this void space do not exceed what is specified in the technical regulations and product specifications, if applicable. 
b. The design of pre-packages shall be free from any cavities, protrusions, pockets, bulges, or any design that could mislead the consumer into thinking the container contains a larger quantity than its actual content. Additionally, the container shall not be displayed in a manner that makes it appear to contain more than its actual quantity. 
c. The pre-package shall not contain parts filled with materials that occupy space in the package capacity without justification. 

    
5. Slack-Fill: 
A void space in the pre-package is allowed in the following cases: 
a. Requirements of the machinery used in sealing the contents of the pre-packages; 
b. Sedimentation that is unavoidable during transportation and handling of the product; C. The need for pre-packages to accomplish
c. specific function (e.g., potato chip bags that are inflated with air), where this function is inherent to the nature of the product and is clearly related to the consumer; and 
d. Necessary requirements for the transportation, handling, and storage of the product. 

6. Aerosol Packaging: 
Legal metrological control on the quantity of the product in Aerosol packaging is based on the specifications and international guidelines for the control of these products issued by international standardisation organisations. 

7. Measurement Instruments Used by Inspectors to Verify the Actual Quantities of Pre-Packages:

a. Inspectors shall be provided with the necessary equipment and facilities to enable them to perform their work accurately, quickly, and efficiently. 
b. All measuring instruments used in verification shall be calibrated or verified and in proper working condition. 
c. Inspectors may use measuring tools available at the packer or importer premises if it is proven that these instruments meet the required purpose. 
d. The control of the actual quantity of pre-packages shall be performed either directly using measuring instruments for length, weight, or volume, or indirectly for liquids by measuring weight and density, provided that the density of the liquid is sufficiently constant across the packages. 
e. Regardless of the measurement method or instruments used, the error in measuring the actual quantity shall not exceed (20%) of the maximum permissible error corresponding to the nominal quantity of the packed material, with a confidence level of (95%) for extended uncertainty.

The supplier is obligated to:
1. Not introduce any pre-packages that do not comply with the provisions hereof and related regulations; 
2. Provide all required information to the inspector to determine the pre-packages, their quantities, and other matters related to the implementation of this resolution, and cooperate by providing all possible assistance in transportation and handling to access the required samples for test either on-site or at laboratories designated by the ministry or the authorised entity; 
3. Ensure that automatic and non-automatic measuring instruments, volumetric filling instruments, density measurement instruments, dimensional tools, temperature tools, and anything that could affect the accuracy of the actual quantity of the final product in the pre-package used in the production or filling of pre-packages meet the following requirements: 

a. Ensure that the measuring instruments used comply with the mandatory requirements and regulations issued by the ministry, specifically for legal metrology instruments subject to the technical regulation for legal metrology tools; 
b. If the used legal measuring instrument directly affects the accuracy of quantity readings for products in pre-packages and is not subject to the technical regulations issued by the ministry, it shall carry a calibration certificate from an accredited laboratory according to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025; 
c. Prevent the use of any legal measuring instrument bearing a rejection mark by metrological verification bodies. The instrument can only be used after it has been reset and verified in accordance with the technical regulations applicable to it; and 
d. All maintenance records and periodic calibration certificates for these instruments shall be kept for at least two years and submitted to the ministry or authorised entities upon request. 

4. Retain records of product quantity verification for pre-packages under the internal quality control system for at least two years and provide them to the ministry or authorised entities upon request.

1. Registration in the conformity system for pre-packages is optional for the supplier. 
2. The ministry shall determine the necessary procedures for issuing the conformity mark and affixing it to the pre-packages. 
3. No product bearing the conformity mark shall be exempted from the requirements hereof and related regulations. The ministry and the authorised entity shall have the right to verify the accuracy of the product quantity compliance in the pre-packages available in the market in accordance with the provisions hereof.

1. It is prohibited to place pre-packages, whether imported or locally manufactured, on the market unless they meet the requirements hereof, in accordance with the procedures issued by the ministry. 
2. The ministry or the authorised entity shall be responsible for conducting inspection and control procedures on pre-packages to ensure that the packages available in the market comply with the requirements hereof. 
3. The ministry or the authorised entity shall have the right to take samples from the market or from suppliers warehouses to conduct any tests it deems appropriate to ensure the compliance of the containers in the market with the requirements hereof. 
4. The supplier of the non-conforming pre-packages shall have the right to request the ministry or the authorised entity to completely rectify the situation of the containers, by excluding all non-conforming containers and keeping only the conforming ones. The supplier shall bear all costs and fees associated with this process, provided that the rectification does not affect the quality of the product. This does not prevent the ministry from taking other legal actions against the supplier. 
5. All pre-packages shall meet the requirements hereof at all distribution levels, including filling points, importation, customs centres, border crossings, retail and wholesale distribution, and any place where they are offered for sale or sold. 
6. All entities subject to the provisions hereof shall provide the ministry and the authorised entities with all assistance and information they request related to the implementation of this resolution in an easy and efficient manner. 
7. The fees related to the metrology services stipulated under the applicable legislation in the ministry shall be paid. 
8. In case of violating the provisions of this resolution and the procedures issued hereby, administrative penalties specified in Cabinet Resolution No. (64) of 2022 regarding the National Measurement System, and the penalties outlined in Federal Law No. (20) of 2020 regarding specifications and standards, shall be applied. 
9. This resolution shall not prevent the ministry or the authorised entities from conducting additional tests to ensure that these products comply with the mandatory requirements set forth in other technical regulations.

The minister, in coordination with the authorised entity, shall issue the necessary resolutions to implement the provisions hereof.

Any provision that violates or contradicts the provisions hereof shall be repealed.

This resolution shall be published in the official gazette, and it shall come into effect 180 (one hundred and eighty) days from the date of its publication.