Shisha tobacco, known in colloquial Arabic as "ma'assel", will soon have to bear health warnings and meet new hygiene and safety standards.
The Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Authority (Esma) has told industry professionals to make the necessary changes to meet the Emirates Conformity Assessment Scheme (ECAS), according to Al Ittihad, the Arabic-language sister paper of The National.
"Esma has issued a circular to all manufacturers and suppliers based in the UAE, notifying them of the start of mandatory registration of plain and fruit-flavoured ma'assel products as per UAE standard specifications," said Mohammed Saleh Badri, Esma's acting director general.
The standards specify that the tobacco must be "clean, free from parasites, viral infections, germs, mould, insects and foreign materials", the official said, adding that packets will have to bear health warnings. The standards also specify permitted additives.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
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