Abu Dhabi has launched streamlined permit rules for school food suppliers via the Tamm app. The new guidelines require compliance with strict safety, nutritional, and operational standards—promoting healthier, safer meals in schools.
Abu Dhabi, UAE: In a significant move to strengthen food safety and nutrition in schools, Abu Dhabi's regulatory authorities have introduced detailed guidelines for obtaining school food supply permits. These rules—now accessible via the Tamm app—set clear technical and hygiene standards for food suppliers, ensuring healthier and safer meals for students across the emirate.
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The new food supply permit system simplifies access for suppliers while raising the bar for quality. Providers of meals to government and private schools must now apply through the Tamm digital platform—a process that takes just six minutes. The streamlined service signals a shift toward responsive, technology-led governance in the education and food sectors.
Suppliers are now required to secure formal permits before serving any food within school premises. The authorities have emphasized that compliance with these requirements helps safeguard young learners and aligns school meal services with the emirate’s broader health and safety mandates.
Permitted school food suppliers will need to meet a set of technical, nutritional, and safety standards set out by a collaboration between the Abu Dhabi Quality & Conformity Council (QCC), the Public Health Centre (ADPHC), and the Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA).
The updated framework includes:
These measures align with Abu Dhabi’s national food safety laws and technical regulations, emphasizing preventive measures across the food service chain.
Complementing these new permitting rules, Abu Dhabi has already rolled out broader food and nutrition policies within schools:
Suppliers and schools are expected to guarantee inclusivity, addressing dietary restrictions and cultural sensitivities in food offerings, including during shared or ceremonial events.
These reforms commenced in the current academic year, with a grace period allowing full compliance by the start of the next academic year. Schools and suppliers must demonstrate adherence to regulations, or face legal sanctions and penalties as per educational and food safety legislation.
The integration of the permitting system and nutrition policy reflects a unified approach across government bodies—ensuring that student welfare, environmental responsibility, and safe practices are at the heart of Abu Dhabi’s food services in schools.
For students, the new rules ensure that meals consumed at school are healthy, well-regulated, and safe—especially for those with allergies or special dietary needs.
Parents benefit from increased transparency and trust: food policies and supplier standards are now clearly outlined and publicly accessible.
Suppliers must maintain higher standards to continue operating, elevating the quality across the board.
This initiative complements Abu Dhabi’s wider goals for public health, education, and sustainability. It integrates food safety into everyday learning environments, while supporting the Ministry’s long-term vision for smart, inclusive, and healthy communities.
By combining modern digital solutions with health-conscious regulation, the emirate continues to showcase its leadership in welfare-driven policy design and execution.
