Article 28 of the Saudi Cosmetics Law
المادة 28 من نظام منتجات التجميل
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز لمفتشي الهيئة أخذ عينات من المنتجات التجميلية لفحصها وتحليلها وفق الضوابط والشروط التي تحددها 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 28 explained in plain English
This article gives the Authority's inspectors a specific power: taking samples of cosmetic products for the purpose of examining and analyzing them.
- Who takes the samples: the inspectors of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.
- Purpose: examination and analysis. Article 1 defines the laboratory as the laboratory the Authority uses to analyze and examine cosmetic products.
- Controls and conditions: set by the Implementing Regulations. The text does not state the quantity, the method of taking samples, the documentation, or whether the sample is paid for.
The benefit of this power is that examining samples is the practical way to confirm whether a product is compliant, counterfeit or spoiled. This article follows Article 27, which prohibits circulation of a product the Authority has announced to be delisted, banned, withdrawn, recalled or suspended, and precedes Article 29, which gives employees named by the President law-enforcement powers to seize violations.
Anyone whose products have been sampled and who wants to know their rights under the Implementing Regulations can consult a lawyer specializing in commercial law and food and drug regulations.
Practical example
Two Authority inspectors entered a warehouse in Dammam that distributes cosmetics and took samples from a batch of moisturizing creams to send for analysis, according to the controls set by the Implementing 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 28 of the Saudi Cosmetics Law
Is a Food and Drug Authority inspector entitled to take samples from my shop?
Yes. The article allows the Authority's inspectors to take samples of cosmetic products for examination and analysis.
What are the controls for taking samples?
The article refers them to the Implementing Regulations of the Law and does not state the details.
Where are cosmetic product samples analyzed?
The Law defines the laboratory as the laboratory the Authority uses to analyze and examine cosmetic products.
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 22
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.
مع عدم الإخلال باختصاصات وزارة الصحة المنصوص عليها في نظام المؤسسات الصحية الخاصة ونظام المنشآت والمستحضرات الصيدلانية؛ تتولى الهيئة الرقابة والتفتيش على مصانع
- 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.