Article 27 of the Saudi Anti-Fraud Law
المادة 27 من نظام مكافحة الغش التجاري · الفصل الرابع: العقوبات
In necessity or urgency the Minister may order precautionary seizure of a product suspected of adulteration and its withdrawal from markets, with the order put to the court within 72 hours.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
يجوز للوزير - في حالة الضرورة أو الاستعجال - إصدار أمر بالحجز التحفظي على منتجٍ وسحبه من الأسواق عند الاشتباه في غشه على أن يعرض أمر الحجز خلال مدة لا تزيد على (اثنتين وسبعين) ساعة على المحكمة المختصة على النحو المبين في اللائحة، لتأكيد الحجز أو إلغائه
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 gives the Minister a quick power to protect the market and the consumer before the case is concluded. Its provisions:
- Who holds the power: the Minister, who under the definition in Article 1 is the Minister of Commerce and Industry.
- Condition for using it: there must be a case of necessity or urgency and a suspicion that the product is adulterated.
- The measure: an order for precautionary seizure of the product and its withdrawal from the markets.
- Judicial oversight: the seizure order must be put to the competent court within not more than seventy-two hours, as set out in the Implementing Regulations, so that it decides whether to confirm or cancel the seizure.
"Precautionary" means the seizure is temporary and protective, intended to stop a suspect product from spreading until the matter is clarified; it is not a finding that the fraud is proven. Putting the order to the court within 72 hours is a safeguard for the merchant, so that the seizure does not remain in place on an administrative decision alone.
This Article was amended by Royal Decree No. (M/10) dated 9/1/1440 AH to take its current form. Anyone whose products have been seized would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial cases to present his position to the competent court.
Practical example
Several reports appeared about infant formula of a certain brand suspected of being adulterated. Out of urgency, the Minister may order its precautionary seizure and withdrawal from the markets, with the order put to the competent court within 72 hours so that it confirms or cancels the seizure.
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 Anti-Fraud Law
Can the Minister of Commerce pull a product from the markets?
Yes. In necessity or urgency, where the product is suspected of being adulterated, he may order its precautionary seizure and withdrawal.
Within how many hours must the seizure be put to the court?
Within not more than seventy-two hours.
What does the court do with the seizure order?
It confirms the seizure or cancels it.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/10 — 9/1/1440 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- عُدلت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/10) وتاريخ 1440/1/9هـ، لتصبح بالنص الآتي:
"المادة (السابعة والعشرون): يجوز للوزير - في حالة الضرورة أو الاستعجال - إصدار أمر بالحجز التحفظي على منتجٍ وسحبه من الأسواق عند الاشتباه في غشه على أن يعرض أمر الحجز خلال مدة لا تزيد على (اثنتين وسبعين) ساعة على المحكمة المختصة على النحو المبين في اللائحة، لتأكيد الحجز أو إلغائه".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
يجوز للوزير– في حالة الضرورة أو الاستعجال– إصدار أمر بالحجز التحفظي على منتج وسحبه من الأسواق عند الاشتباه في غشه، على أن يعرض أمر الحجز خلال مدة لا تزيد على (اثنتين وسبعين) ساعة على ديوان المظالم على النحو المبين في اللائحة لتأكيد الحجز أو إلغائه.
More articles on Detecting Fraud Violations and Taking Samples
- Article 6
The article allows a judicial police officer, where he has strong grounds to believe a violation exists, to take samples of the suspected product and draw up a seizure report in accordance with the Regulations.
إذا وجدت لدى مأمور الضبط القضائي أسباب قوية تحمله على الاعتقاد بأن هناك مخالفة لأحكام هذا النظام، جاز له سحب عينات من المنتج المشتبه به لتحليلها، وتحرير محضر ضب
- Article 7
The article bars the merchant from dealing with the suspected product before the examination result clearing it appears.
يحظر على التاجر التصرف في المنتج المشتبه به قبل ظهور نتيجة الفحص بإجازته.
- Article 8
The article requires the competent authority to examine the product and release the result within fifteen days at most for food products, leaving it to the Regulations to set periods for other products.
تلتزم الجهة المختصة بفحص المنتج وإظهار نتيجة الفحص خلال مدة لا تتجاوز خمسة عشر يومًا بالنسبة للمنتجات الغذائية، أما المنتجات الأخرى فتحدد اللائحة المدد اللازمة
- Article 9
The article prohibits preventing judicial police officers from inspecting, seizing, entering premises and taking samples, requires them to prove their status, and allows them to close the shop until the merchant lets them in.
يحظر منع مأموري الضبط القضائي من تأدية أعمال وظائفهم في التفتيش والضبط، ودخول المصانع أو المخازن أو المتاجر أو غيرها من المحلات، أو الحصول على عينات من المنتجات
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.