Wednesday, January 22, 2014

UAE Anti-tobacco Law in effect from January 21

The much anticipated Anti-tobacco Federal Law has come into place on January 21. A number of rules must be taken into consideration, as violators may be met with hefty fines.

On July 21, 2013 the Ministry of Health announced the executive regulations of the Anti-tobacco Federal Law, which was approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in the Cabinet's Resolution No 24.

During the course of the next 6 months, the public was able to take the required measures to comply with the new law. As shopkeepers, distributers and the hospitality sector have geared up for the day of implementation, the individual smoker too should be well aware of the new rules from today onward in order to avoid being fined.A couple of rules have been implemented to protect the younger generation from the harm that can be caused through smoking and passive smoking. By far the most-talked about rule is the restriction of smoking in the car in the presence of a child below 12 years.

The violator will be fined with a Dh500 penalty, and Dubai Police is tasked with the enforcement of this rule. So, from today, good behaviour on the road goes beyond being a good driver.

Further, the young generation will not be able to purchase any tobacco products, as the sale of these products to any person under the age of 18 is a violation. Similarly, shisha products may not be provided to persons under the age of 18. Those flouting these rules may be fined with penalties between Dh500-10,000.

Shopkeepers and café owners will have to abide by an additional set of rules. Shisha shops and shops selling tobacco products may no longer be available near schools and mosques. A minimum distance of 15 metres should be maintained from kindergartens, schools, universities and colleges, a minimum of 100 metres from places of worship. A minimum of 150 metres from residential areas is the rule for shisha cafes.

Further, tobacco products cannot be displayed near items marketed for children, or sportswear, health, food and electronic products.

Advertising of tobacco products is no longer permitted.  The law bans any content that advertises tobacco products, such as newspaper advertisements, TV commercials and animations.

It also bans importing tobacco products that are not line with technical standards set by the UAE, and any violations regarding such imports can lead to a one year prison sentence and a fine ranging from Dh100,000 to Dh1 million, in addition to the confiscation of products.

The law also provides specifications on the packaging of tobacco products. All products must now display a large warning label on the front to raise awareness on the dangers of tobacco, and not to mislead them. Violators will be fined Dh100,000 to Dh1 million, and the fines can be doubled if the offence is repeated.

Shisha cafes are subjected to specific rules when it comes to their opening hours. The regulations specify that these cafes must comply to working hours from 10am to midnight. Shishas may not be served to customers younger than 18 years, and the cafes will be forbidden from delivering shishas to apartments.

Finally, growing or producing tobacco for commercial purposes will also be forbidden, and current manufacturing plants have been given a grace period of 10 years to sort out their situation, while tobacco farms have been given a two-year grace period.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Expatriates to clear all fines before visa cancellation in UAE

Image Credit: Gulf News
Expatriates will not be allowed to leave the UAE unless they have paid all their fines in line with new Interior Ministry measures.

“Expatriates must not have any unpaid fines or any police cases against them in order to be able to cancel their visa to leave the country or to get a new visa here,” Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, Director-General of Dubai Residency and Foreigners Affairs Department in Dubai (GDRFA) .He said this applied all over the country.
According to new rules implemented by the Ministry of Interior late last year the rules will be expanded to cover all financial commitments by expatriates.
“We have linked procedures to cancel visas for expatriates with the payment of all their road fines.”
The computer systems of the traffic police and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have already been linked to all Residency and Foreigners Affairs Departments in the UAE.
This step is to ensure that expatriates pay all their financial dues.
An American resident in Sharjah, who had his visa issued by Sharjah Free Zone and who wanted to have his visa cancelled to change jobs, said he was shocked to discover he owed Dh10,000 in Salik fines.
William M. said he was new to the country and did not know about Salik.
“When I bought and registered my car no one told me that I needed a Salik tag,” he said.
He said he was asked by the residency department in Sharjah to pay his RTA fines in Dubai before getting his visa cancelled by the Sharjah Free Zone.

“I had to pay Dh10,000 in traffic fines.”

He said newcomers to the country should be educated about the rules here to avoid breaking the law.

UAE to launch mobile phone services for visit visas, domestic help cards and passport renewal

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Interior will soon offer services via smart phones to renew passports, 30-day and 90-day visit visas, as well as domestic workers card and entry permits among other services, a senior official said Monday.
Major General Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al Raisi, Director General of Central Operations at Abu Dhabi Police, said the Ministry of Interior launched 169 electronic services through its website, and 30 smart services via mobile phones.
“The services offered in the first phase include vehicle registration renewal, payment of fines through mobile phones and the Ministry of Interior’s website without having to visit the relevant service centre,” Al Raisi said.
He added work was under way to add the passport renewal service for mobile phones in the coming days, in addition to the 30-day (short term visits) and 90-day visit visas (long term visits) service, the domestic workers card and entry permit and other security services.
The Ministry of Interior will be achieving full automation of the 339 services it offers through smart phones or through its website by the end of the year, in addition to the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and Interactive Messaging Services,” Al Raisi said.