Article 12 of the Saudi Food Law
المادة 12 من نظام الغذاء · الفصل الرابع: التراخيص
The article bars any laboratory from dealing with food before obtaining a license from the Authority under the conditions and requirements the Regulations set.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز لأي مختبر التعامل مع الغذاء قبل الحصول على ترخيص من الهيئة وفق الشروط والمتطلبات 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 12 explained in plain English
This article imposes a prior license requirement on laboratories: no laboratory may deal with food before obtaining a license from the Food and Drug Authority.
The most important points of the provision:
- It covers any laboratory that deals with food, without distinguishing in the text between a government and a private laboratory.
- The license must come before dealing with food, so a laboratory may not start work and then request a license.
- The conditions and requirements are set by the Implementing Regulations and are not stated in the law.
Article 13 follows with a similar provision for food establishments: no food establishment may handle food before obtaining a technical license from the Authority. So the law requires a prior license for laboratories and establishments alike.
"Dealing with food" here is a general phrase the article does not limit to a particular type of work, so it covers inspection, analysis and other things laboratories do with food.
Anyone who wishes to invest in this field should refer to the Regulations before operating, and may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases if a license application is refused.
Practical example
An investor opened a laboratory in Madinah to analyze juice samples for factories. He may not receive any food sample before obtaining the Authority's license under what the Regulations specify.
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 12 of the Saudi Food Law
Does a food analysis laboratory need a license?
Yes. No laboratory may deal with food before obtaining a license from the Authority.
What are the conditions for licensing a food laboratory?
The article refers the licensing conditions and requirements to the Implementing Regulations of the law.
More articles on Licensing Food Establishments and Workers
- Article 13
The Law prohibits any food establishment from handling food before obtaining a technical license from the Authority, according to the requirements, conditions and procedures set by the Regulations.
لا يجوز لأي منشأة غذائية تداول الغذاء قبل الحصول على ترخيص فني من الهيئة، وفقاً للمتطلبات والشروط والإجراءات التي تحددها اللائحة.
- Article 14
The article limits food exports to establishments the Food and Drug Authority has licensed for that.
لا يجوز تصدير الغذاء إلا من منشأة ترخص لها الهيئة بذلك.
- Article 15
Article 15 bars any individual from working in food handling before obtaining a license to work in food-related activities, and leaves the conditions to the Regulations.
لا يجوز لأي فرد العمل في تداول الغذاء إلا بعد الحصول على رخصة ممارسة العمل في الأنشطة المتعلقة بالغذاء، وتحدد اللائحة متطلبات وشروط الحصول على تلك الرخصة.
- Article 39
Article 39 makes the Authority's Board the body that sets the financial charges for the Authority's services and for the licenses, registration certificates and approvals it issues.
يحدد المجلس المقابل المالي نظير الخدمات التي تقدمها الهيئة، والتراخيص وشهادات التسجيل والموافقات التي تصدرها.
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.