Article 16 of the Saudi Food Law

This is one of the most important articles of the Food Law for consumers and traders alike, because it sets out when food may not be handled. Under Article 1, handling covers every practice food goes through in the food chain, such as storage, transport, display, sale and free distribution.

Food may not be handled in the following cases:

1. If it violates the provisions of Islamic Sharia.
2. If it is harmful to health or unfit for consumption.
3. If it violates the technical regulations or the food standard specifications.
4. If it is adulterated, or involves deceptive methods or means or a practice that misleads the consumer.
5. If it is not packaged in the manner set by the technical regulations, except as the Regulations exempt.
6. If it does not come with the food label and explanatory information, except as the Regulations exempt.
7. If it is not registered with the Authority.

One of these cases is enough to prohibit handling. Note that the fifth and sixth cases allow exceptions set by the Regulations, while the text mentions no exception for the other cases.

Article 17 then makes the food establishment responsible for ensuring that the Law and its regulations are applied in its activity, so the establishment must first make sure that what it handles does not fall into these cases. A person accused of handling prohibited food would be well advised to consult a lawyer specializing in criminal or commercial cases.