Article 15 of the Saudi Food Law
المادة 15 من نظام الغذاء · الفصل الرابع: التراخيص
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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.
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 15 explained in plain English
After Article 14 limited food exports to licensed establishments, this article turns to individuals. It provides that no individual may work in food handling except after obtaining a license to work in food-related activities.
Elements of the rule:
- Who is covered: any individual working in food handling. Under Article 1, food handling covers the practices food goes through in the food chain, such as preparation, packaging, storage, transport, display and sale.
- What is required: a license to work in food-related activities, before starting work.
- Conditions and requirements: set by the Implementing Regulations; the Law itself does not state them.
So the Law does not stop at licensing the establishment; it also requires a license for the individual who works in food handling. Article 16 follows by setting out the cases in which food may not be handled at all.
The article does not say which body issues the license, how long it lasts or which tests are required for it; all of that is left to the Regulations.
Practical example
Mohammed has been hired as a cook at a restaurant in Riyadh. He may not start preparing food until he obtains a license to work in food-related activities, under the conditions set by the Regulations.
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 15 of the Saudi Food Law
Does a restaurant worker need a license?
Yes. No individual may work in food handling except after obtaining a license to work in food-related activities.
What are the conditions for obtaining a license to work in food-related activities?
The article leaves the license requirements and conditions 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 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 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.