Article 24 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
المادة 24 من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية
The article restricts wholesale sale of narcotic substances to licensed establishments, bars treatment institutions from disposing of them without the Ministry of Health's approval, and requires delivery to the responsible person against an official receipt.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- لا يجوز بيع المواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية بالجملة إلا للمنشآت الصيدلية والمؤسسات العلاجية المرخص لها بذلك.
2- لا يجوز للمؤسسات العلاجية التصرف في المواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية المخصصة لها لجهات أخرى إلا بعد موافقة وزارة الصحة.
3- لا يجوز تسليم المواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية المبيعة إلا للصيادلة أو فنيي الصيدلة المسئولين عن المواد المخدرة أو المؤثرات العقلية في المنشآت المرخص لها بالاتجار في ذلك، ويكون التسليم بموجب إيصال رسمي.
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 24 explained in plain English
This article regulates the movement of narcotic and psychotropic substances among licensed bodies, so that they do not leave the circle subject to oversight. It contains three provisions:
- Wholesale sale: these substances may not be sold wholesale except to pharmacy establishments and treatment institutions licensed for that. Wholesale sale to any unlicensed body is not valid.
- Disposal by treatment institutions: substances allocated to a treatment institution may not be disposed of to other bodies except after the approval of the Ministry of Health. If a hospital has a surplus, it may not give it to another hospital on its own.
- Delivery: the substances sold may not be delivered except to the pharmacists or pharmacy technicians responsible for these substances in the establishments licensed to trade in them, and the delivery is made against an official receipt. They may not be delivered to any other employee of the establishment, even if it is licensed.
With these provisions, every sale or transfer remains documented and the person who received it is known. The article is consistent with Article Twenty-Three, which requires licensed establishments to register these substances, monitor their dispensing and submit their data to the Ministry of Health, since the official receipt supports the accuracy of these records. The next article, Article Twenty-Five, moves to another subject: licensing the establishment of factories or laboratories to produce these substances by decision of the Council of Ministers. Anyone who needs advice on sales and supply dealings would do well to consult a lawyer specialized in commercial cases and health regulations.
Practical example
A wholesale drug warehouse in Riyadh sold a quantity of a medicine containing a narcotic substance to a licensed pharmacy. On delivery, the representative must hand the shipment to the pharmacist or pharmacy technician responsible for these substances in the pharmacy against an official receipt, not to any other employee.
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 24 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
May a hospital give surplus narcotic medicines to another hospital?
Treatment institutions may not dispose of these substances allocated to them to other bodies except after the approval of the Ministry of Health.
To whom may narcotic medicines be sold wholesale?
Only to pharmacy establishments and treatment institutions licensed for that.
Who receives a shipment of narcotic medicines at the pharmacy?
The pharmacist or pharmacy technician responsible for these substances in the licensed establishment, against an official receipt.
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.