Article 20 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
المادة 20 من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية
The article lets the Ministry of Health license warehouses, factories and pharmacies to trade in narcotic substances for medical use if run by a Saudi pharmacist, and bars disposing of the establishment without the Ministry's approval.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لوزارة الصحة الترخيص بالاتجار في المواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية للاستعمال الطبي والعلمي داخل المملكة لمستودعات بيع الأدوية بالجملة ومصانع الأدوية والصيدليات، على أن يدير المنشأة صيدلي سعودي مرخص له بمزاولة مهنة الصيدلة.
2- لا يجوز لصاحب المنشأة الصيدلية -المرخص لها بالاتجار في المواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية - التصرف في المنشأة إلا بعد موافقة وزارة الصحة.
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 20 explained in plain English
This article regulates lawful trade in narcotic and psychotropic substances inside the Kingdom, meaning selling and circulating them for medical and scientific use. It contains two provisions:
First: licensing trade (paragraph 1)
- Licensing authority: the Ministry of Health.
- Purpose: medical and scientific use inside the Kingdom.
- Establishments that may be licensed: wholesale drug warehouses, drug factories and pharmacies.
- Condition: the establishment must be run by a Saudi pharmacist licensed to practice the pharmacy profession.
Second: disposing of the establishment (paragraph 2)
The owner of a pharmacy establishment licensed to trade in these substances may not dispose of the establishment except after the approval of the Ministry of Health. "Disposal" is a general term in the text, so it includes, for example, selling the establishment or assigning it. The aim is that an establishment holding these substances stays under the Ministry's supervision and does not pass to someone who does not meet the conditions.
This article is complemented by Article Twenty-One, which makes the person responsible for the custody of these substances in warehouses, drug factories and treatment institutions a Saudi pharmacist or a Saudi pharmacy technician, and the head of nursing or his delegate in the inpatient wards of treatment institutions. Anyone who wishes to sell or buy a licensed pharmacy would do well to consult a lawyer specialized in commercial cases and health regulations.
Practical example
Fahd owns a pharmacy in Dammam licensed to trade in medicines containing psychotropic substances, and it is run by a licensed Saudi pharmacist. Fahd wanted to sell the pharmacy to another investor, and he may not complete the sale until he obtains the approval of the Ministry of Health.
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 20 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
Who may trade in narcotic medicines inside Saudi Arabia?
Wholesale drug warehouses, drug factories and pharmacies licensed by the Ministry of Health, on condition that a licensed Saudi pharmacist runs them.
May a pharmacy licensed for narcotic medicines be sold without permission?
No. Its owner may not dispose of the establishment except after the approval of the Ministry of Health.
Must the manager of the pharmacy be a Saudi?
Yes. Paragraph (1) requires the establishment to be run by a Saudi pharmacist licensed to practice the pharmacy profession.
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 12
The article requires a one-year renewable license from the Ministry of Health to import or export narcotic or psychotropic substances for legitimate purposes.
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 لل
- 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.
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.