Article 7 of the Saudi Agriculture Law
المادة 7 من نظام الزراعة
The Ministry determines how to treat and dispose of agricultural and veterinary waste and infected resources; this may be done for a fee, with the owner compensated for resources destroyed.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تتولى الوزارة -بالتنسيق مع الجهات ذات العلاقة- تحديد طرق المعالجة والتخلص الآمن مما يأتي:
1- المخلفات الزراعية.
2- المخلفات الطبية البيطرية.
3- ثروات القطاع الزراعي أو منتجاته أو مدخلات إنتاجه المصابة أو المشتبه في إصابتها بالأمراض أو الأوبئة أو الآفات.
وللوزارة أو مقدم الخدمة -بحسب الأحوال- القيام بنشاط المعالجة والتخلص الآمن من المخلفات المشار إليها في الفقرتين (1) و(2) من هذه المادة بمقابل مالي، وذلك وفقًا لما تحدده اللائحة.
وعلى الوزارة في حالة التخلص من أي نوع من أنواع ثروات القطاع الزراعي أو منتجاته أو مدخلات إنتاجه المشار إليها في الفقرة (3) من هذه المادة؛ تعويض المالك وفق إجراءات التقدير والصرف التي تبينها 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 7 explained in plain English
This article regulates safe treatment and disposal of three kinds of items:
- Agricultural waste.
- Veterinary medical waste.
- Agricultural sector resources, products or production inputs that are infected, or suspected of being infected, with diseases, epidemics or pests.
The Ministry, in coordination with the relevant authorities, determines the methods for their treatment and safe disposal.
The fee: The Ministry or a service provider may carry out the treatment of kinds 1 and 2 only (agricultural and veterinary waste) and their disposal for a fee as the Implementing Regulations specify.
Compensation: If the Ministry disposes of resources, products or inputs of kind 3 (infected or suspected of being infected), it must compensate the owner according to the assessment and payment procedures set out in the Implementing Regulations.
The difference matters in practice: the owner of ordinary waste may pay a fee for its disposal, while the owner of infected resources that the Ministry disposes of has a right to compensation. The text makes compensation an obligation on the Ministry, but the assessment of its amount and the method of payment are left to the Implementing Regulations, so the article does not set a specific percentage or value.
If you have a specific situation, it is best to consult a lawyer specializing in administrative matters and agricultural laws.
Practical example
The Ministry suspected that a flock of poultry on a farm in Al-Qassim was infected with an epidemic, and disposed of it by the specified safe methods. The Ministry must compensate the farm owner according to the assessment and payment procedures in the Implementing Regulations. The farm's ordinary poultry manure, by contrast, may be treated by a service provider for a fee.
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 7 of the Saudi Agriculture Law
Do I get compensation if the Ministry destroys my sick livestock?
Yes. When disposing of infected or suspected infected resources, the Ministry must compensate the owner according to the assessment and payment procedures set out in the Implementing Regulations.
Is disposal of agricultural waste free?
The Ministry or a service provider may treat and dispose of agricultural and veterinary medical waste for a fee, as the Implementing Regulations specify.
More articles on Agricultural Waste and Emergencies
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.