Article 23 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
المادة 23 من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية
The article requires licensed pharmacy establishments and treatment and research institutions to register narcotic substances, monitor their dispensing and submit their registration data to the Ministry of Health according to the Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على كل منشأة صيدلية رخص لها باستيراد المواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية أو تصديرها أو حيازتها أو الاتجار فيها، أو المؤسسات العلاجية أو البحثية المرخص لها باستعمال المواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية ، أن تقوم بتسجيلها ومراقبة صرفها. كما أن عليها تقديم بيانات تسجيل هذه المواد إلى وزارة الصحة، وذلك 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 23 explained in plain English
This article places a continuing oversight obligation on every body licensed to deal with narcotic or psychotropic substances, so that every quantity can be traced from entering the establishment until it is dispensed.
The bodies bound:
- Every pharmacy establishment licensed to import, export, possess or trade in these substances.
- Treatment or research institutions licensed to use these substances.
The obligations:
- Registering these substances.
- Monitoring their dispensing.
- Submitting their registration data to the Ministry of Health.
All of this is as set by the Implementing Regulations; the text does not state the form of the records, the information required or how often it must be submitted to the Ministry, but refers that to the Regulations.
The purpose of registration is that the quantities in circulation stay known and consistent with what is recorded, making it easy to detect any leakage. This obligation is linked to Article Twenty-Two, which requires that the person responsible for custody be free of certain bars, since a trustworthy custodian and disciplined records complement each other. After it comes Article Twenty-Four, which restricts selling these substances wholesale and requires that they be delivered against an official receipt, which supports the integrity of the records. Anyone who needs advice on registration requirements would do well to consult a lawyer specialized in health regulations.
Practical example
A licensed pharmacy in Medina sells medicines containing psychotropic substances on prescriptions. It must register everything it receives of these medicines and everything dispensed, monitor dispensing, and submit the registration data to the Ministry of Health in the manner set by the Regulations.
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 23 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
Must a pharmacy register narcotic medicines?
Yes. Every pharmacy establishment licensed to possess or trade in these substances must register them and monitor their dispensing.
Must data on narcotic medicines be sent to the Ministry of Health?
Yes. The article requires licensed bodies to submit the registration data of these substances to the Ministry of Health as set by the Regulations.
Do these obligations include hospitals and research centers?
Yes. They include treatment or research institutions licensed to use these substances.
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.