Article 13 of the Saudi Food Law
المادة 13 من نظام الغذاء · الفصل الرابع: التراخيص
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
لا يجوز لأي منشأة غذائية تداول الغذاء قبل الحصول على ترخيص فني من الهيئة، وفقاً للمتطلبات والشروط والإجراءات 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 13 explained in plain English
This article requires every food establishment to obtain a technical license from the Food and Drug Authority before it begins handling food.
To understand the scope of the provision, two definitions in Article 1 should be consulted:
- Food establishment: any legal entity that carries out work relating to food handling during the stages of the food chain, excluding household family kitchens.
- Food handling: the practices food goes through during the food chain, including import, manufacturing, packaging, storage, transport, display, sale, free distribution and others.
So any of these activities carried out by a legal entity needs the technical license before starting. The requirements, conditions and procedures are set by the Regulations and are not stated in the Law.
It follows Article 12, which requires laboratories to be licensed before dealing with food, and is followed by Article 14, which completes the provision in the field of export, since food may be exported only from an establishment the Authority licenses to do so.
The text does not address the other licenses an operator may need from other bodies; it concerns only the technical license from the Authority.
Practical example
Noura set up a company in Jeddah to pack dates and sell them to stores. Before she starts packing or selling, she must obtain a technical license from the Authority according to what the Regulations set, because packing and selling are forms of food handling.
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 13 of the Saudi Food Law
When does a food establishment need a technical license?
Before handling food. The article prohibits any food establishment from handling food before obtaining a technical license from the Authority.
Do families producing from home need this license?
The definition of a food establishment excludes household family kitchens. This article does not address the position of commercial home activities specifically, and the Regulations and the Authority should be consulted.
Where do I find the conditions for the technical license?
The article refers the requirements, conditions and procedures to the Implementing Regulations of the Law.
More articles on Licensing Food Establishments and Workers
- Article 12
The article bars any laboratory from dealing with food before obtaining a license from the Authority under the conditions and requirements the Regulations set.
لا يجوز لأي مختبر التعامل مع الغذاء قبل الحصول على ترخيص من الهيئة وفق الشروط والمتطلبات 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.