Article 22 of the Saudi Agriculture Law
المادة 22 من نظام الزراعة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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- للوزارة أو مقدم الخدمة -بحسب الأحوال- التحفظ على أي من ثروات القطاع الزراعي أو منتجاته التي يشتبه في إصابتها، والتعامل معها؛ وفق الإجراءات التي توضحها اللائحة وبالتنسيق مع الجهات المختصة بها.
3- على جميع الجهات الحكومية والخاصة إبلاغ الجهة المعنية عند اكتشاف أي مرض أو آفة أو وباء مشترك بين الإنسان والحيوان يترتب عليه ضرر مباشر على الإنسان أو الصحة العامة أو البيئة.
4- لا يجوز لأي فرد أو جهة في المملكة إرسال أي مادة أو عينة تتعلق بالثروة الحيوانية أو المائية الحية إلى خارج المملكة لإجراء الفحوصات المخبرية المرضية إلا بعد موافقة الوزارة.
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 22 explained in plain English
This article contains four provisions to prevent the spread of diseases:
- Ban on moving and trading: It is prohibited to move, trade in or dispose of any agricultural sector resources or products that are infected or suspected of being infected with any disease, pest or epidemic, without the Ministry's approval.
- Custody: The Ministry or a service provider, as the case may be, may take custody of resources or products suspected of being infected and deal with them, according to the procedures the Implementing Regulations set out and in coordination with the competent authorities.
- Shared diseases: All government and private bodies must notify the relevant authority when they discover any disease, pest or epidemic shared between humans and animals that results in direct harm to humans, public health or the environment.
- Samples: No individual or body in the Kingdom may send any material or sample relating to animal or live aquatic resources outside the Kingdom for pathological laboratory tests except after the Ministry's approval.
Note that the ban in paragraph 1 also covers suspected cases, so a livestock owner may not move or sell them on the grounds that the infection is not proven as long as it is suspected. Paragraph 4 also concerns only animal and live aquatic resources, and does not mention plant resources.
This article complements Article 21, which requires immediate reporting of diseases and regulates quarantine areas.
If you have a specific situation, it is best to consult a lawyer specializing in agricultural and environmental laws.
Practical example
A livestock trader in Riyadh learned that some of the heads in his herd were suspected of having an infectious disease, and considered selling them quickly in another market. He may not move or sell them without the Ministry's approval, and the Ministry or a service provider may take custody of them and deal with them in accordance with the Implementing Regulations.
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 22 of the Saudi Agriculture Law
Can livestock suspected of having a disease be sold?
No. Moving, trading in or disposing of infected or suspected infected resources or products without the Ministry's approval is prohibited.
Can an animal sample be sent abroad for testing?
No material or sample relating to animal or live aquatic resources may be sent abroad for pathological laboratory tests except after the Ministry's approval.
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 20
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.
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.
- 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
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.