Article 22 of the Saudi Cosmetics Law
المادة 22 من نظام منتجات التجميل
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع عدم الإخلال باختصاصات وزارة الصحة المنصوص عليها في نظام المؤسسات الصحية الخاصة ونظام المنشآت والمستحضرات الصيدلانية؛ تتولى الهيئة الرقابة والتفتيش على مصانع منتجات التجميل ومستودعاتها وأماكن بيعها وإرسالياتها وشحناتها.
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 22 explained in plain English
This article identifies the body that oversees and inspects the cosmetic products market: the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.
The scope of oversight and inspection covers five places:
- Factories that produce cosmetic products.
- Warehouses that store and distribute them.
- Points of sale, such as shops and stores.
- Consignments.
- Shipments.
The article begins with the phrase "without prejudice to the powers of the Ministry of Health" provided for in the Law of Private Health Institutions and the Law of Pharmaceutical Establishments and Preparations. This means the Authority's competence here does not cancel the powers the Ministry of Health holds under those two laws, and the article itself does not set out the details of those powers.
Article 23 follows, requiring the Authority to warn against a cosmetic product if it considers that it affects public health, by the means it sees fit. Oversight and inspection are how the Authority discovers non-compliant or dangerous products.
Anyone whose establishment is inspected and who wants to know their rights and obligations can consult a lawyer specializing in commercial law and food and drug law.
Practical example
Inspectors from the Authority visited a shop selling perfumes and creams in a popular market in Riyadh and examined the products on display. This falls within the Authority's competence because the article gives it oversight and inspection of the points of sale of cosmetic products.
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 22 of the Saudi Cosmetics Law
Which body is responsible for inspecting cosmetics shops?
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority oversees and inspects the factories, warehouses, points of sale, consignments and shipments of cosmetic products.
Does the Ministry of Health have a role in overseeing cosmetics?
The article provides that this is without prejudice to the Ministry of Health's powers under the Law of Private Health Institutions and the Law of Pharmaceutical Establishments and Preparations.
Does the oversight cover imported shipments?
Yes. The oversight and inspection cover cosmetic products' consignments and shipments.
More articles on Oversight and Inspection of Cosmetic Products
- Article 5
The 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.
تتحقق الهيئة من مطابقة منتجات التجميل للوائح الفنية والمواصفات القياسية والاشتراطات التي اعتمدتها، ولها أن تستعين بشركات متخصصة للتحقق من ذلك.
- Article 18
The article requires the factory to apply good manufacturing practices (GMP) and allows the Authority to confirm this whenever needed under the Implementing Regulations' procedures.
يلتزم المصنع بتطبيق أسس التصنيع الجيد (GMP)، وللهيئة التأكد من ذلك كلما دعت الحاجة، وفقًا للإجراءات التي تحددها اللائحة.
- Article 28
The 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.
يجوز لمفتشي الهيئة أخذ عينات من المنتجات التجميلية لفحصها وتحليلها وفق الضوابط والشروط التي تحددها اللائحة.
- Article 29
The 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.
يتولى موظفون - يصدر بتسميتهم قرار من الرئيس - ضبط مخالفات أحكام هذا النظام ولائحته، وتكون لهم صلاحيات وسلطات الضبط الجنائي.
- Article 30
Those 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.
يجب على المسؤولين والعاملين في الأماكن المراد تفتيشها تمكين مفتشي الهيئة من أداء عملهم وعدم إعاقتهم، وتقديم جميع التسهيلات والمعلومات والوثائق والعينات المطلوبة
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.