UAE bans part worn tyre imports

Nearly year after the UAE banned the sale of used tyres, local news sources report that an import ban has been added to measures designed to curb the part worn trade. The new law is part of a tyre management plan implemented by the Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Authority (Esma), which will implement the ban on the import of used tyres in September. In the meantime, the existing federal law is “being openly flouted by traders and workshops in Sharjah and Dubai”, according to Gulf News.

Despite the apparent clarity of the legal position there appears to be some degree of ignorance of the law, with local dealers claiming they have not received any official communication banning the practice.

“The approval of tyres entering the UAE is under Esma in partnership with the Ports and Customs authorities, where we believe the policies are effectively implemented since we are monitoring the product on a per consignment basis, however, the market monitoring is being done by different local government authorities together with the Ministry of Interior to make sure that only approved tyres are traded in the country,” said said Mohammad Saleh Badri, Director-General of Esma.

In Sharjah, used tyres are reportedly sold for between 50 and 150 dirhams (£9-£27) depending on the size and age of the tyre.