Article 6 of the Saudi Anti-Fraud Law
المادة 6 من نظام مكافحة الغش التجاري · الفصل الثالث: الضبط والتحقيق والمحاكمة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 ضبط بهذه الواقعة يحتوي على جميع البيانات اللازمة للتثبت من العينات نفسها والمنتج الذي أخذت منه وفقاً لما 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 6 explained in plain English
This article explains when and how samples are taken from products suspected of being adulterated. The holder of this power is the judicial police officer, who under Article 5 means the employees of the Ministry, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and the Food and Drug Authority who are appointed by decision of the Minister.
The conditions and procedures for this power:
- Condition for starting: the officer must have strong grounds leading him to believe that a violation of the Law's provisions exists; a passing suspicion is not enough.
- The measure: he may take samples of the suspected product for analysis.
- Documentation: a seizure report is drawn up on this incident containing all the data necessary to verify the samples themselves and the product from which they were taken.
The article refers the details of the data and the way the report is drawn up to the Implementing Regulations. The importance of the report is that it links the sample to the product from which it was taken, so that the analysis result is evidence about that specific product.
After the sample is taken comes the provision of Article 7, which bars the merchant from dealing with the suspected product before the result of the examination clearing it appears. It is therefore advisable for the merchant to review the report and make sure its data is accurate. Where there is a dispute about the procedures, a lawyer specialized in criminal or commercial cases can be consulted.
Practical example
A specialist inspector visited a dairy warehouse in Qassim after complaints about a change in the taste of a certain product. He took samples from a specific batch and drew up a report stating the batch number, its quantity and where it was stored, then sent the samples for analysis.
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 6 of the Saudi Anti-Fraud Law
When may a Ministry of Commerce inspector take samples?
When the judicial police officer has strong grounds leading him to believe that a violation of the Law's provisions exists.
What must the seizure report contain?
All the data necessary to verify the samples themselves and the product from which they were taken, as the Regulations set out.
May the merchant sell the product after a sample is taken?
Article 7 bars the merchant from dealing with the suspected product before the result of the examination clearing it appears.
More articles on Detecting Fraud Violations and Taking Samples
- 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
- Article 27Amended (1440 AH)
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.
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
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.