Article 19 of the Saudi Food Law
المادة 19 من نظام الغذاء · الفصل السادس: مسؤوليات المنشآت الغذائية
Article 19 allows the Authority to evaluate food before, during and after marketing when needed, and to take the measures set by the Regulations in light of the result.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للهيئة أن تقوِّم الغذاء قبل تسويقه وفي أثنائه وبعد التسويق إذا تطلب الأمر ذلك، ولها - في ضوء نتيجة التقويم - اتخاذ الإجراءات 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 19 explained in plain English
This article gives the Saudi Food and Drug Authority the power to evaluate food at three stages:
- Before it is marketed.
- While it is being marketed.
- After marketing.
The text qualifies this with the phrase "if required", meaning that evaluation is a power the Authority uses when needed, not a step imposed on every product at every stage by this article.
After the evaluation, the Authority may, in light of its result, take the measures set by the Regulations. The article does not list these measures but leaves them to the Implementing Regulations, so no particular kind of measure should be assumed from this text alone.
The practical importance of this article is that placing a product on the market does not end the Authority's oversight of it; it may be evaluated again during or after marketing. This fits with other articles: Article 18 requires the establishment to trace the source of food, and Article 20 requires it to notify the Authority if it knows or suspects that food is non-compliant and to take measures to withdraw it.
Establishments should expect that their products may be reviewed at any stage.
Practical example
A few months after a new energy drink was launched on the market, the Authority received information that called for reviewing it. Under this article it may evaluate the product after marketing, and then take the measures set by the Regulations in light of the result.
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 19 of the Saudi Food Law
Does the Food and Drug Authority monitor products after they are sold?
Yes. The Authority may evaluate food before it is marketed, while it is marketed and after marketing, if required.
What measures does the Authority take after the evaluation?
The article leaves these measures to the Implementing Regulations without listing them.
More articles on Responsibilities of Food Establishments
- Article 17
Article 17 makes the food establishment responsible for ensuring that the Food Law and its regulations are applied in the food activity under its responsibility.
تكون المنشأة الغذائية مسؤولة عن ضمان تطبيق أحكام هذا النظام ولوائحه ضمن النشاط الغذائي الواقع تحت مسؤوليتها.
- Article 18
Article 18 requires a food establishment to be able to identify the source of food under its supervision and its suppliers, and to give the Authority information when needed.
يجب على المنشأة الغذائية أن تكون قادرة على التعرف على مصدر الغذاء الذي تحت إشرافها، وتحديد المنشآت الغذائية التي تمدها به، وتزويد الهيئة بالمعلومات المطلوبة إذا
- Article 20
Article 20 requires a food establishment that knows or suspects food is non-compliant to notify the Authority and take the measures to withdraw it as the Regulations set.
إذا علمت أو شكّت المنشأة الغذائية أن الغذاء غير مطابق للاشتراطات والمتطلبات التي تفرضها الهيئة؛ وجب عليها إبلاغ الهيئة بذلك، واتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة لسحب الغذا
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.