Food Law in the Kingdom

The Food Law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a set of legal rules regulating all stages of the food chain and food safety in the Kingdom following international food standards.

The drafting of the Food Law in the Kingdom began in 2008. The law was issued on October 30, 2014, during the reign of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The Food Law in the Kingdom aims to ensure the utmost safeguarding of human health and life. This involves the organization of food safety management, ensuring adherence to food safety standards, and seeking to offer any technical support to ensure the safety of both human and animal food and medicine. Additionally, the law strives to foster trust between consumers and the relevant entities overseeing food safety and food control system. Moreover, it aims to promote sound food awareness, while safeguarding consumer interests against fraud, food deception, or improper utilization of law terminology.

The Food Law was developed through collaboration between the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and entities. This involved SFDA’s adoption of joint workshops between the SFDA and chambers of commerce within the Kingdom. Several authorities, including food product manufacturers and agents, food companies and factories, and food service companies and institutions, participated in formulating the draft Food Law.

The SFDA has been tasked by the law with the responsibility of implementing its provisions. This includes overseeing the regulation, monitoring, and supervision of food and medicine. Additionally, the law has set mandatory standard specifications for all foods imported or produced within the Kingdom. The SFDA undertakes the monitoring and examination of food in its laboratories or those of other entities. It also holds the responsibility of raising consumer awareness regarding food, medicine, adulterated and spoiled food, as well as elucidating the provisions of the Food Law. It also enforces penalties and legal actions against establishments found to be in violation of the Food Law.

The Food Law encompasses various regulations governing the imposition of penalties on establishments found in violation of its provisions. These include a table classifying violations and their corresponding penalties as per the Food Law and its Implementing Regulations pertaining to food establishments. The law serves as an alternative to the Regulations of Municipal Violations Penalties. The articles of the Food Law specify the penalties to apply the principle of justice among violators and safeguard consumers' rights to consume healthy and safe food. This includes imposing upon whoever causes the intentional circulation of a harmful, adulterated, or prohibited food item, the penalty of imprisonment for up to ten years or a fine of not more than SAR10 million, or both penalties.