Article 27 of the Saudi Agriculture Law
المادة 27 من نظام الزراعة
The article gives the Article 26 committee power to order the violator to remove the violation, impose a daily fine, double the fine for repeats within 3 years, publish the decision, and request confiscation.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للجنة المشار إليها في المادة (السادسة والعشرين) من النظام ما يأتي:
1- تضمين القرار -الصادر بتحديد العقوبة- النص على إلزام المخالف بإزالة المخالفة.
2- فرض غرامة عن كل يوم يستمر فيه المخالف في مخالفته بعد تبليغه بقرار اللجنة، على أن يبدأ احتساب هذه الغرامة من التاريخ الذي يحدده قرار اللجنة.
3- مضاعفة الغرامة في حال تكرار المخالفة نفسها. وتعد المخالفة مكررة إذا وقعت خلال (ثلاث) سنوات من تاريخ ارتكاب المخالفة التي سبقتها.
4- تضمين القرار الصادر بتحديد العقوبة النص على نشر منطوقه على نفقة المخالف في صحيفة محلية تصدر في مكان إقامته، فإن لم يكن في مكان إقامته صحيفة ففي أقرب منطقة له، أو نشره في أي وسيلة أخرى مناسبة، وذلك بحسب نوع المخالفة المرتكبة وجسامتها وآثارها، على أن يكون نشر القرار بعد تحصنه بمضي المدة المحددة نظامًا أو بتأييده من المحكمة المختصة.
5- الطلب من المحكمة المختصة الحكم بمصادرة المضبوطات محل المخالفة.
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 27 explained in plain English
This article sets out additional powers of the committee provided for in Article 26, which is the committee formed by decision of the Minister of at least 3 members including a specialist in Sharia or law, and which hears violations and approves penalties.
The committee may:
- Remove the violation: Include in the penalty decision an order requiring the violator to remove the violation, so paying the fine while the violation remains is not enough.
- A daily fine: Impose a fine for each day the violator continues after being notified of the committee's decision, starting from the date the decision specifies.
- Doubling the fine on repeat: A violation is repeated if it occurs within 3 years of the date the previous violation was committed, and the text requires it to be the same violation.
- Publication: Include in the decision publication of its operative part at the violator's expense in a local newspaper in his place of residence, or the nearest region, or any suitable means, according to the type and gravity of the violation and its effects. Publication takes place only after the decision becomes final, by the lapse of the legally set period or by its upholding by the competent court.
- Confiscation: Request from the competent court a judgment confiscating the seized items that are the subject of the violation; the committee does not confiscate itself, but asks the court to.
In practical terms, a repeat violator faces escalating penalties, and publication does not take place before the decision becomes final, which is an important safeguard.
If you have a specific situation, it is best to consult a lawyer specializing in administrative matters and agricultural 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 27 of the Saudi Agriculture Law
When is an agricultural violation considered repeated?
If the same violation occurs within 3 years of the date the previous violation was committed, and the committee may then double the fine.
Can a violator of the Agriculture Law be publicly named?
The committee may include in its decision publication of its operative part at the violator's expense, provided publication takes place after the decision becomes final by the lapse of the legal period or its upholding by the competent court.
Does the committee confiscate seized items?
It does not confiscate itself, but may request a judgment from the competent court confiscating the seized items that are the subject of the violation.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Agriculture Violations and Penalties
- Article 23
The article lists violations of the Law: concealing information or giving it misleadingly to the Ministry or inspectors, obstructing inspectors' work, and violating license conditions and controls.
يعد من مخالفات النظام القيام بأي من الأفعال الآتية: 1- إخفاء معلومات أو بيانات عن الوزارة أو المفتشين، أو تقديمها بشكل مضلل أو غير صحيح. 2- إعاقة عمل المفتشين.
- Article 24
The text regulates Ministry inspectors in catching and investigating violations, the duty to give them access, their powers of stopping, inspection, sampling, custody and closure, and assigning some tasks to companies.
1- يتولى مفتشون -يصدر بتحديدهم قرار من الوزير- مجتمعين أو منفردين ضبط مخالفات أحكام النظام واللائحة، والتحقيق فيها، وإثباتها، وتحدد اللائحة آليات عملهم؛ وذلك دو
- Article 25
A violator of the Law or Implementing Regulations is punished by a fine of up to SAR 15 million, license suspension of up to a year, license cancellation, or facility closure of up to a month; the Minister issues violation tables.
1- دون إخلال بما ورد في المادة (الثامنة والعشرين) من النظام، وأي عقوبة أشد ينص عليها نظام آخر، يعاقب كل من يخالف أي من أحكام النظام أو اللائحة بواحدة -أو أكثر-
- Article 26
The article allows the Ministry to impose a fine of up to SAR 100,000 and a daily fine, establishes committees to decide violations and objections, and allows a grievance before the Administrative Court.
1- دون إخلال بما ورد في الفقرة (2) من هذه المادة، والمادة (الحادية والثلاثين) من النظام، تتولى الوزارة إيقاع عقوبة الغرامة التي لا تزيد على (100.000) مائة ألف ر
- Article 30
Anyone who attempts to violate the Law or Implementing Regulations is punished by no more than half the prescribed penalty, and on repeat by the same penalty prescribed for the violation.
يعاقب من يشرع في مخالفة أي حكم من أحكام النظام أو اللائحة بما لا يتجاوز نصف العقوبة المقرة نظامًا. وفي حال التكرار يعاقب بالعقوبة ذاتها المقررة للمخالفة.
- Article 31
The competent court handles the violations in Article 28 and their penalties, and may order confiscation, a daily fine, doubled penalties for repeat offenses and publication of a summary of the judgment.
تتولى المحكمة المختصة النظر في المخالفات المشار إليها في المادة (الثامنة والعشرين) من النظام، وإيقاع العقوبات المنصوص عليها في تلك المادة، ويجوز لها ما يأتي: 1-
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.