In force
Saudi Cosmetics Law
نظام منتجات التجميل
Regulates cosmetic products in Saudi Arabia: listing, labeling, advertising, factory and warehouse licensing, withdrawal, inspection and penalties. It has 38 articles and concerns manufacturers, importers and sellers.
- Articles
- 38
- In force
- 38
- Amended
- 0
- Issued
- 18/6/1436 AH
Issued by: مرسوم ملكي رقم م / 49 بتاريخ 18 / 6 / 1436
Each article shows the official Arabic text, which is the only legally binding version, followed by our plain-English explanation.
Browse Cosmetics Law by topic
Definitions and Scope of the Cosmetics Law4 articlesStandards and Prohibited Substances in Cosmetics3 articlesListing of Cosmetic Products5 articlesResponsibilities and Duties of the Lister3 articlesCosmetics Labeling and Advertising2 articlesLicensing of Cosmetics Factories7 articlesLicensing of Cosmetics Warehouses2 articlesWithdrawal and Recall of Cosmetic Products5 articlesOversight and Inspection of Cosmetic Products6 articlesFraud in Cosmetic Products1 articleSeizure and Destruction of Cosmetic Products3 articlesPenalties for Violating the Cosmetics Law3 articlesGrievances Against Cosmetics Penalties1 article
Articles of the Saudi Cosmetics Law
- Article 1The article defines the key terms of the Cosmetics Law, such as cosmetic product, listing, lister, manufacturer, warehouse, circulation, withdrawal, recall, adulterated and spoiled product, and advertisement.
- Article 2The article sets the law's scope: it applies to cosmetic products, their factories and warehouses, and to their circulation and trade.
- Article 3The article gives the Saudi Food and Drug Authority the power to issue technical regulations and standard specifications for cosmetic products and their factories, and requirements for the workers in them.
- Article 4The article requires the Saudi Food and Drug Authority to determine the prohibited substances and the restricted substances in cosmetic products and to publish them on its website.
- Article 5The article charges the Authority with verifying that cosmetic products conform to the approved technical regulations, standard specifications and requirements, and allows it to use specialized companies for this.
- Article 6The article bars importing or circulating a cosmetic product in the Kingdom until it is listed with the Authority and a listing certificate is obtained, under the Implementing Regulations' controls.
- Article 7The article says who may apply to list a cosmetic product: the manufacturer, the producing company, or whoever either of them authorizes, under the procedures in the Implementing Regulations.
- Article 8The article requires the Authority to decide on a listing application within 15 days of its requirements being completed and to issue a listing certificate, and to state its reasons when it refuses or does not decide.
- Article 9The article makes the lister responsible for the safety of the cosmetic product and for it not harming the user's health under normal use following the label's instructions.
- Article 10The article places five obligations on the lister: reporting harm, manufacturing errors and recalls, keeping the product information file, reporting modifications, documenting wholesale sales, and reporting misuse.
- Article 11The article requires every cosmetic product to carry identification data or a label, as set by the Implementing Regulations.
- Article 12The article requires the Authority to publish on its website the list of cosmetic products listed in the cosmetic products register.
- Article 13The article requires a technical license from the Authority for a cosmetic products factory, under the requirements and conditions set by the Implementing Regulations.
- Article 14The article sets out the procedures for the technical license of a cosmetics factory: an application decided within 30 days by preliminary approval or reasoned refusal, then a license after the necessary approvals and confirmation that GMP is applied.
- Article 15The article requires a cosmetic products factory to have a full-time Saudi technical manager, as set by the Implementing Regulations.
- Article 16The article requires the factory to notify the Authority of any change in it, its products or the information it provided, and bars operating it outside what it is licensed for.
- Article 17The article bars the factory from starting to market a cosmetic product until it has been listed with the Authority.
- Article 18The article requires the factory to apply good manufacturing practices (GMP) and allows the Authority to confirm this whenever needed under the Implementing Regulations' procedures.
- Article 19The article requires a license from the Authority for a cosmetic products warehouse, under the requirements and conditions set by the Implementing Regulations.
- Article 20The article sets the duration of a cosmetic products factory or warehouse license at five years, renewable.
- Article 21The article bars advertising or promoting cosmetic products before they are listed, and subjects advertising and promotion to the controls and conditions set by the Implementing Regulations.
- Article 22The article makes the Authority competent to oversee and inspect cosmetic products factories, warehouses, points of sale, consignments and shipments, without prejudice to the Ministry of Health's powers under two specified laws.
- Article 23The article requires the Authority to warn the public about a cosmetic product when it considers that the product affects public health, using whatever means it sees fit.
- Article 24When a cosmetic product is established to be unsafe, harmful or not listed, the Authority takes one or more measures: delisting, banning circulation, withdrawal, recall or suspension.
- Article 25The article allows the Authority to suspend circulation of a cosmetic product for a period it sets if it suspects the product may violate the Law or its Implementing Regulations.
- Article 26The lister must withdraw or recall a cosmetic product when the Authority decides so; if it does not do so within the set period, the Authority withdraws and destroys it, as applicable, at the lister's expense.
- Article 27The article prohibits circulation of any cosmetic product that the Authority has announced to be delisted, banned, withdrawn, recalled or suspended.
- Article 28The article allows the Authority's inspectors to take samples of cosmetic products for examination and analysis, according to the controls and conditions set by the Implementing Regulations.
- Article 29The article makes detecting violations of the Law and its Regulations the task of employees named by a decision of the Authority's Chief Executive Officer, and gives them judicial-police powers.
- Article 30Those in charge of and working at the places to be inspected must enable the Authority's inspectors to do their work, not obstruct them, and provide the facilities, information, documents and samples requested.
- Article 31The article lists the acts that violate the Cosmetics Law, including fraud, circulating counterfeit, spoiled or expired products, counterfeiting packaging and obstructing inspectors, and covers attempts.
- Article 32The article sets out how seized cosmetic products are handled when a violation is detected: holding them and their documents where needed, taking samples, and destroying spoiled, counterfeit and unlisted products.
- Article 33The article makes destroying cosmetic products the task of one or more committees formed for this purpose, with formation and manner of work set by the Regulations, and the violator bears the costs.
- Article 34Anyone who violates the Law or its Regulations is punished by one or more of: a fine of up to SAR 5 million, closure of the factory or warehouse, license revocation, or up to five years' imprisonment; penalties may be doubled for repeat violations.
- Article 35The article regulates imposing penalties: a table of violations issued by the Board, the Authority's handling of administrative violations other than imprisonment, referral of crimes to prosecution, temporary closure and publication of the penalty decision.
- Article 36The article regulates grievances against the Authority's penalty decisions: before a committee formed by the Board within 30 days of notification, which rules within 60 days, then before the Board of Grievances within 60 days.
- Article 37The article makes the Authority's Board of Directors responsible for issuing the Implementing Regulations of the Cosmetics Law, which take effect from the date the Law takes effect.
- Article 38The article provides that the Cosmetics Law takes effect 180 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.