The Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) has dismissed the rumours that spread on social networking sites about drinking cups containing carcinogens, a report said.

"All locally-produced and imported materials used for packaging, wrapping, covering and preparing foods, and including plastics, glass, metals, ceramic, wood, cardboard and paper, are put through strict tests before they are permitted to be used in order to ensure they comply with the UAE relevant standards approved in 2012 based on EU legislations issued in 2014 and to ensure they do not pose a health risk and comply with food-safety demands," said Saif Al-Shara, assistant undersecretary for Agricultural and Livestock Affairs at the Ministry, and chairman of National Committee on Food Safety, in a statement.

The official affirmed that the regulations demand that samples of all imported materials to be used in the local food industry be tested for food safety by a recognised laboratory with ISO 17025 accreditation (or equivalent), and that the tests be approved by a UAE embassy at the country of origin in order to ensure that no chemicals will be released into foods, A Wam report said.

Al Shara also re-iterated that the relevant authorities in UAE are making huge efforts to rigorously pursue the highest food safety levels possible, further enhance the stature of the country as a hub for food trade and ensure the complete confidence of all consumers, whether they are residents and tourists, as well as all countries involved in food trade via UAE, it said. – TradeArabia News Service