Article 12 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
المادة 12 من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية
The article requires a one-year renewable license from the Ministry of Health to import or export narcotic or psychotropic substances for legitimate purposes.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز استيراد المواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية أو تصديرها لأغراض مشروعة إلا بموجب رخصة استيراد أو تصدير صادرة من وزارة الصحة. وتمنح الرخصة لمدة سنة قابلة للتجديد، على أن تكون شاملة للبيانات الخاصة بالمرخص له، والمادة المخدرة، أو المؤثر العقلي، بتفاصيلها وفق ما تحدده 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 12 explained in plain English
Narcotic and psychotropic substances have legitimate uses, chiefly medical and scientific. But the Law does not allow them to be brought into or taken out of the Kingdom, even for these purposes, except on strict conditions. The first is what this article provides:
- These substances may not be imported or exported for legitimate purposes except under an import or export license issued by the Ministry of Health.
- The license is granted for one year, renewable.
- The license must include the details of the licensee and the details of the narcotic or psychotropic substance, with its particulars, as set by the Implementing Regulations.
The license is not a general permission, but is tied to a specific body and a specific substance. In practice, this means that an establishment needs to follow up on renewing its license before the year ends. The details of the required information are found in the Regulations.
This article is complemented by Article Thirteen, which limits the granting of this license to specific establishments: pharmaceutical companies and their agents, wholesale drug warehouses, treatment institutions and scientific research institutes and centers, analysis laboratories, and licensed drug factories, on condition that the specialty or work of some of them calls for the use of these substances. Anyone who needs advice on licensing requirements would do well to consult a lawyer specialized in health and administrative regulations.
Practical example
A pharmaceutical company in Riyadh wants to import a painkiller containing a narcotic substance to supply hospitals. It must first obtain an import license from the Ministry of Health containing its details and the details of the substance, valid for one year, and then apply to renew it if it wants to continue.
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 12 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
How long is a Ministry of Health license to import narcotic substances?
The license is granted for one year, renewable.
May a narcotic medicine be imported for a medical purpose without a license?
No. The article provides that import or export for legitimate purposes is not permitted except under a license issued by the Ministry of Health.
What information does the license include?
The details of the licensee and of the narcotic or psychotropic substance with its particulars, as set by the Implementing Regulations.
More articles on Licensing Narcotics for Medical Purposes
- Article 2
The article excludes emergency and first-aid medicines containing narcotic substances carried on ships and aircraft from importation, exportation and smuggling, on specific conditions.
لا يعد جلبا أو تصديرا أو تهريبا الكميات المحددة من الأدوية الطبية التي تحتوي على مواد مخدرة أو مؤثرات عقلية تحملها وسائط النقل، كالسفن والطائرات، لمواجهة الحالا
- Article 13
The article limits granting a license to import or export narcotic or psychotropic substances to five categories of pharmaceutical, treatment and research establishments.
يقصر منح رخصة استيراد المواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية أو تصديرها على المنشآت الآتية: 1 - شركات الأدوية ووكلائها. 2 - مستودعات بيع الأدوية بالجملة. 3 - المؤسس
- Article 14
The article requires narcotic or psychotropic substances to be imported or exported in tightly sealed parcels with a detailed statement, with no other substance in the parcel.
لا يجوز استيراد مواد مخدرة أو مؤثرات عقلية أو تصديرها إلا داخل طرود محكمة الإغلاق، مع بيان يحدد اسم المادة وكميتها وتركيزها وشكلها الصيدلاني حتى لو كانت عينة. و
- Article 15
The article gives the Ministry of Health the power to review the quantity requested for import or export of narcotic substances and to approve, amend or reject it according to the Regulations.
لوزارة الصحة مراجعة الكمية المطلوب استيرادها أو تصديرها للموافقة عليها أو تعديلها أو رفضها وفق الضوابط التي تحددها اللائحة .
- Article 16
The article bars releasing narcotic or psychotropic substances arriving at customs except under a release license from the Ministry of Health, which is returned to it after the release.
لا يجوز تسليم المواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية التي تصل إلى الجمارك إلا بموجب رخصة فسح صادرة من وزارة الصحة، على أن تعاد هذه الرخصة إليها بعد انتهاء الفسح.
- Article 17
The article lets the Minister of Interior license government bodies, institutes and research centers to import and cultivate seeds of the plants in Table (4) for medical and research purposes, according to the Regulations.
لوزير الداخلية الترخيص للمصالح والإدارات الحكومية والمعاهد ومراكز البحث العلمي باستيراد وزراعة بذور النباتات المدرجة في الجدول رقم (4) المرافق لهذا النظام للأغر
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.