Article 36 of the Saudi Cosmetics Law
المادة 36 من نظام منتجات التجميل
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يشكل المجلس لجنة أو أكثر لا يقل عدد أعضائها عن ثلاثة على أن يكون من بينهم مستشار نظامي على الأقل؛ للنظر في التظلم من قرارات العقوبات التي تصدر من الهيئة.
2 - يجوز التظلم من قرار العقوبة الذي يصدر من الهيئة أمام اللجنة خلال ثلاثين يومًا من تاريخ تبليغ قرار العقوبة، على أن تبت اللجنة في التظلم خلال مدة لا تتجاوز ستين يومًا.
3 - في حالة عدم صدور قرار من اللجنة خلال المدة المحددة في الفقرة (2) أو صدور قرار
لا يقبل به المخالف؛ يجوز له التظلم من القرار أمام ديوان المظالم خلال ستين يومًا من تاريخ صدور القرار أو مضي المدة المحددة للبت في التظلم أمام اللجنة.
4 - يحدد المجلس إجراءات أعمال اللجان ومكافآت أعضائها.
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 36 explained in plain English
This article sets out the route for objecting to penalty decisions issued by the Authority, in two stages:
Stage one: the grievance committee
- The Council, which is the Authority's Board of Directors, forms one or more committees with no fewer than three members, including at least one legal adviser.
- A grievance may be filed before it within 30 days of the date of notification of the penalty decision.
- The committee rules on the grievance within a period not exceeding 60 days.
Stage two: the Board of Grievances
- If the committee does not issue its decision within the set period, or issues a decision the violator does not accept, the violator may file a grievance before the Board of Grievances.
- The period is 60 days, running from the date the committee's decision is issued, or from the expiry of the period set for ruling on the grievance before it.
Note that the period for the grievance before the committee runs from notification, whereas the period for going to the Board of Grievances runs from issuance of the committee's decision or expiry of the period for ruling. The Council sets the procedures of the committees' work and their members' remuneration.
This article relates to Article 35, under which the Authority imposes penalties for administrative violations other than imprisonment. Because the periods are short, a person penalized should act promptly to file a grievance and consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases (the Board of Grievances).
Practical example
An establishment in Jeddah was notified of a fine decision by the Authority on the first of the month. It filed a grievance with the committee within 30 days of notification. Sixty days passed without the committee ruling, so the establishment became entitled to file a grievance before the Board of Grievances within 60 days from the end of the period for ruling.
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 36 of the Saudi Cosmetics Law
How long do I have to challenge a Food and Drug Authority penalty?
A grievance may be filed before the committee within 30 days of the date of notification of the penalty decision.
What do I do if the grievance committee does not respond?
If the committee does not issue its decision within 60 days, a grievance may be filed before the Board of Grievances within 60 days from the end of that period.
Can the grievance committee's decision be challenged?
Yes. If the violator does not accept the decision, the violator may file a grievance before the Board of Grievances within 60 days from the date of the decision.
How many members does the grievance committee have?
No fewer than three, including at least one legal adviser.
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.