Article 20 of the Saudi Agriculture Law
المادة 20 من نظام الزراعة
The Ministry regulates quarantine procedures for the agricultural sector and wild organisms to limit diseases, and may establish quarantine centers and operate them directly or through a service provider.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تتولى الوزارة تنظيم إجراءات الحجر للقطاع الزراعي وللكائنات الفطرية؛ للحد من دخول الأمراض أو الآفات أو الأوبئة، أو انتشارها، وفقًا للأحكام النظامية ذات الصلة.
2- تحدد اللائحة التدابير والاحتياطات والإجراءات الواجب اتباعها لحماية ثروات القطاع الزراعي وموارده، ومنع دخول الأمراض المعدية والآفات والأوبئة وانتشارها.
3- للوزارة إيجاد مراكز للحجر بحسب الحاجة.
4- تتولى الوزارة تنظيم مراكز الحجر، وتشغيلها بشكل مباشر أو من خلال مقدم الخدمة، وفق ما تبينه اللائحة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 20 explained in plain English
This article regulates quarantine, a main tool for protecting the agricultural sector from imported diseases.
- Regulating the procedures: The Ministry regulates quarantine procedures for the agricultural sector and for wild organisms, to limit the entry or spread of diseases, pests or epidemics, in accordance with the relevant legal provisions. Under Article 1, wild organisms are living or dead organisms that are not domesticated, pet or tamed.
- The measures: The Implementing Regulations specify the measures, precautions and procedures to be followed to protect the resources of the agricultural sector, and to prevent the entry and spread of infectious diseases, pests and epidemics.
- Establishing the centers: The Ministry may set up quarantine centers as needed.
- Operation: The Ministry regulates and operates quarantine centers directly or through a service provider, as the Implementing Regulations set out.
Note that quarantine is not limited to what enters from abroad, since the text speaks of limiting entry or spread. The possibility of operating the centers through a service provider is also consistent with the Law's direction of involving the private sector in agricultural services.
The Law does not detail the measures themselves here, but refers them to the Implementing Regulations. It is followed by Article 21, which regulates reporting of diseases and declaring quarantine areas.
If you have a specific situation, it is best to consult a lawyer specializing in agricultural and environmental laws.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 20 of the Saudi Agriculture Law
Who regulates agricultural quarantine in Saudi Arabia?
The Ministry regulates quarantine procedures for the agricultural sector and for wild organisms.
Can a private company operate a quarantine center?
The Ministry may operate quarantine centers directly or through a service provider, as the Implementing Regulations set out.
More articles on Agricultural Quarantine and Epidemic Control
- Article 15
The article requires government bodies and everyone connected with animal resources to cooperate with the Ministry, by providing information, applying measures, reporting diseases and mandatory registration and tagging.
تلتزم الجهات الحكومية المعنية وكل ذي صلة بالثروة الحيوانية أو منتجاتها أو مخلفاتها بالتعاون مع الوزارة بجميع السبل والوسائل الممكنة في سبيل تمكينها من القيام با
- Article 16
The Ministry follows diseases and epidemics affecting agricultural sector resources in other countries, and the Kingdom's representations abroad inform it of the information they have as quickly as possible.
1- تتابع الوزارة الأمراض والأوبئة التي تصيب ثروات القطاع الزراعي في الدول الأخرى. 2- تبلغ ممثليات المملكة في الخارج الوزارة -وفقًا للإجراءات المتبعة وفي أسرع وق
- Article 21
The article requires anyone who discovers an infectious disease, pest or epidemic to report to the Ministry at once, allows declaring quarantine areas and banning movement in them, and the Ministry bears compensation for the consequences of measures.
1- على كل من يكتشف -من العاملين في القطاع الزراعي أو من غيرهم- وجود أي مرض معدِ أو آفة أو وباء؛ إبلاغ الوزارة مباشرةً فور اكتشافه أو الاشتباه فيه. 2- تتولى الوز
- Article 22
The article prohibits moving or trading infected or suspected resources or products without the Ministry's approval, allows taking custody of them, and bars sending samples abroad without approval.
1- يحظر نقل أي من ثروات القطاع الزراعي أو منتجاته المصابة أو المشتبه في إصابتها بأي مرض أو آفة أو وباء، أو تداولها، أو التصرف بها؛ دون موافقة الوزارة. 2- للوزار
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.