Article 25 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
المادة 25 من نظام مكافحة المخدرات والمؤثرات العقلية
The article makes licensing the establishment of factories or laboratories to produce, separate or build narcotic or psychotropic substances for scientific or commercial purposes subject to a decision of the Council of Ministers.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يتم الترخيص بإنشاء مصانع أو معامل تختص بإنتاج مواد مخدرة أو مؤثرات عقلية أو فصلها، أو تشييدها لأغراض علمية أو تجارية، بقرار من مجلس الوزراء .
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 25 explained in plain English
This article addresses the most serious form of lawful dealing with narcotic and psychotropic substances, namely their production from the start. Production, in the definitions of Article One, means separating narcotic or psychotropic substances from their plant origin. The Law therefore raised the licensing authority to the highest level:
- Subject of the license: establishing factories or laboratories specialized in producing or separating narcotic or psychotropic substances, or constructing them.
- Purpose: scientific or commercial purposes.
- Licensing authority: the Council of Ministers, by its decision.
The approval of a particular ministry is not enough here; a decision of the Council of Ministers is required. The article states no conditions or procedures for applying for this license, so the content of such conditions cannot be inferred from the text.
This provision differs from what the next article, Article Twenty-Six, provides: that article concerns drug factories that make medical preparations containing narcotic or psychotropic substances in their composition, which are licensed by the Ministry of Health, on condition that the applicant meets the conditions for a license to trade in narcotic substances and holds it. This article, by contrast, concerns producing or separating the narcotic substance itself. Before it comes Article Twenty-Four, which regulates wholesale sale and delivery among licensed bodies. Anyone who needs advice on a project of this kind would do well to consult a lawyer specialized in administrative and commercial cases.
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 25 of the Saudi Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Law
Who licenses establishing a factory to produce narcotic substances in Saudi Arabia?
The license is by decision of the Council of Ministers, whether the purpose is scientific or commercial.
What is the difference between a narcotics production factory and a narcotic drug factory?
Factories that produce or separate narcotic substances are licensed by decision of the Council of Ministers under Article 25, whereas drug factories that make preparations containing them are licensed by the Ministry of Health under Article 26.
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.