Article 38 of the Saudi Environment Law
المادة 38 من نظام البيئة · الفصل الثامن: المخالفات وضبطها وإيقاع العقوبات
Violators of the Environment Law and its regulations are punished by a fine of up to SAR 20 million, suspension of the license or permit for up to six months, or its cancellation, with further powers for the violation committees.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- دون إخلال بما ورد في المادتين (الأربعين) و(الثالثة والأربعين) من النظام، وأي عقوبة أشد ينص عليها نظام آخر؛ يعاقب كل من يخالف أيًّا من أحكام النظام واللوائح بواحدة أو أكثر من العقوبات الآتية:
أ- غرامة لا تزيد على (20.000.000) عشرين مليون ريال.
ب- تعليق الترخيص أو التصريح لمدة لا تتجاوز ستة أشهر.
ج- إلغاء الترخيص أو التصريح.
2- يُصدر الوزير -بالتنسيق مع الجهة المختصة- بقرار منه جداول تصنيف للمخالفات وتحديد للعقوبات ضمن حدها المنصوص عليه في هذه المادة؛ تراعى فيها طبيعة كل مخالفة وجسامتها، والظروف المشددة والمخففة لها.
3- للجان -المشار إليها في الفقرة (2) من المادة (التاسعة والثلاثين) من النظام- ما يأتي:
أ- فرض غرامة عن كل يوم يستمر فيه المخالف في مخالفته بعد تبليغه بقرار اللجنة، على أن يبدأ احتساب هذه الغرامة من التاريخ الذي يحدده قرار اللجنة.
ب- مضاعفة العقوبة -الواردة في الفقرتين الفرعيتين (أ) و(ب) من الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة- الموقعة على المخالف في حالة تكرار المخالفة نفسها خلال سنة من تاريخ صيرورة قرار العقوبة السابقة نهائيًّا، وذلك فيما عدا ما ورد في الفقرة (2) من المادة (الأربعين) من النظام.
ج- تضمين القرار الصادر بالعقوبة النص على نشر ملخصه على نفقة المخالف في صحيفة محلية تصدر في مكان إقامته، فإن لم يكن في مكان إقامته صحيفة ففي أقرب منطقة له، أو نشره في أي وسيلة أخرى مناسبة، وذلك بحسب نوع المخالفة المرتكبة وجسامتها وتأثيرها، على أن يكون نشره بعد تحصن القرار بمضي المدة المحددة نظاماً أو كان الحكم الصادر في شأنه مكتسباً الصفة القطعية.
د- الطلب من المحكمة المختصة الحكم بمصادرة المضبوطات محل المخالفة.
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 38 explained in plain English
This Article is the general rule on penalties for violating the Environment Law and its regulations. It applies without prejudice to Articles 40 and 43 and to any harsher penalty provided for in another law.
The penalties (paragraph 1): one or more of the following:
- A fine of up to SAR 20,000,000.
- Suspension of the license or permit for a period not exceeding six months.
- Cancellation of the license or permit.
Classification tables (paragraph 2): The Minister, in coordination with the competent authority, issues tables that classify violations and set their penalties within these limits, taking into account the nature and seriousness of each violation and its aggravating and mitigating circumstances.
Powers of the committees (paragraph 3): These are the committees referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 39, which the Minister forms to consider violations and impose penalties. They may:
- Impose a daily fine for each day the violator continues the violation after being notified of the committee's decision, starting from the date the decision specifies.
- Double the fine and the suspension penalty if the same violation is repeated within one year of the date the previous penalty decision became final, except as provided in paragraph 2 of Article 40, which concerns repeated cutting of trees and killing of live wild animals within a year, and which is punished there by imprisonment or a fine.
- Include in the decision a provision for publishing its summary at the violator's expense in a local newspaper in the place of his residence, or in the nearest area to him, or by any other suitable means, depending on the type and seriousness of the violation. Publication takes place only after the decision becomes immune from challenge by the lapse of the period set by law or the judgment issued on it becomes final.
- Ask the competent court to rule for confiscation of the seized items.
In addition to the penalty, under Article 43 the violator must remove the effects of the violation, carry out rehabilitation and pay compensation in accordance with the regulations. If a penalty decision has been issued against you, you may wish to consult a lawyer who specializes in environmental law.
Practical example
A factory in Dammam violated the conditions of its environmental permit. The committee may impose a fine within the table's limits, and suspend its permit for no more than six months. If it continues the violation after being notified of the decision, a fine may be imposed for each day, and if it repeats the same violation within a year of the first decision becoming final, the penalty may be doubled.
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 38 of the Saudi Environment Law
What is the maximum fine for violating the Environment Law?
The fine in this Article does not exceed SAR 20,000,000, and it may be combined with or replaced by suspension or cancellation of the license or permit, without prejudice to any harsher penalty in another law.
Does the environmental fine double for repeat violations?
The committees may double the fine and the suspension penalty if the same violation is repeated within one year of the date the previous penalty decision became final, except as provided in paragraph 2 of Article 40.
How long can an environmental license be suspended?
The suspension of the license or permit does not exceed six months.
Is the name of the environmental violator published?
The penalty decision may provide for publishing its summary at the violator's expense, depending on the type and seriousness of the violation, after the decision becomes immune from challenge or the judgment becomes final.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 40
Imprisonment of up to ten years and a fine of up to SAR 30 million, or either, for committing the acts in Article 35, or for repeating within a year the cutting of plants or killing of live wild animals.
دون إخلال بأي عقوبة أشد ينص عليها نظام آخر، يعاقب بالسجن مدة لا تزيد على عشر سنوات وبغرامة لا تزيد على (30.000.000) ثلاثين مليون ريال، أو بإحدى هاتين العقوبتين؛
- Article 43
The violator must remove the effects of the violation, carry out rehabilitation and pay compensation, as determined by the regulations.
يجب على المخالف إزالة الآثار المترتبة على المخالفة وإعادة التأهيل ودفع التعويضات، وذلك وفقاً لما تحدده اللوائح.
- Article 39
The competent authority imposes fines of up to SAR 100,000, committees formed by the Minister consider other violations, penalties and objections, and their decisions may be challenged before the Administrative Court.
1- دون إخلال بما ورد في الفقرة (2) من هذه المادة، والمادة (الحادية والأربعين) من النظام؛ تتولى الجهة المختصة إيقاع عقوبة الغرامة التي لا تزيد على (100،000) مائة
More articles on Environmental Violation Fines
- Article 39
The competent authority imposes fines of up to SAR 100,000, committees formed by the Minister consider other violations, penalties and objections, and their decisions may be challenged before the Administrative Court.
1- دون إخلال بما ورد في الفقرة (2) من هذه المادة، والمادة (الحادية والأربعين) من النظام؛ تتولى الجهة المختصة إيقاع عقوبة الغرامة التي لا تزيد على (100،000) مائة
- Article 43
The violator must remove the effects of the violation, carry out rehabilitation and pay compensation, as determined by the regulations.
يجب على المخالف إزالة الآثار المترتبة على المخالفة وإعادة التأهيل ودفع التعويضات، وذلك وفقاً لما تحدده اللوائح.
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.