Article 11 of the Saudi Food Law

This article places a restriction on promoting foods: food may not be advertised except with the approval of the Food and Drug Authority, under the conditions and requirements set by the Implementing Regulations.

The meaning of advertisement in the law is very broad; Article 1 defines it as any statement, whether written, read, heard, seen or otherwise, intended to directly or indirectly promote the sale or disposal of any food, or any material presented as food. It follows that:

• The provision is not limited to television or newspaper advertisements, as the definition covers any medium.
• It covers indirect promotion, not only explicit advertising.
• It covers materials presented as food, even if they are not food in reality.

As for what is required to obtain approval and how to request it, the law does not state it; the Regulations set it, so the advertiser or product owner must refer to them.

This provision comes between the provisions on registration and licensing: Article 10 requires laboratories that deal with food to register, and Article 12 bars laboratories from dealing with food before licensing, while this article concerns promoting food. If an establishment faces an objection to its advertisement, it can consult a lawyer specializing in commercial or administrative cases.