Article 20 of the Saudi Food Law
المادة 20 من نظام الغذاء · الفصل السادس: مسؤوليات المنشآت الغذائية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا علمت أو شكّت المنشأة الغذائية أن الغذاء غير مطابق للاشتراطات والمتطلبات التي تفرضها الهيئة؛ وجب عليها إبلاغ الهيئة بذلك، واتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة لسحب الغذاء وفقاً لما تحدده 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 20 explained in plain English
This article places a twofold duty on a food establishment when it discovers a problem with food. If it knows or suspects that the food does not comply with the requirements and conditions imposed by the Authority, it must:
- Notify the Authority of this.
- Take the measures necessary to withdraw the food as the Regulations set.
The key points of the text:
- Certainty is not required; mere suspicion of non-compliance is enough for the duty to arise.
- The duty falls on the establishment itself, without waiting for the Authority to discover the violation.
- The details of the withdrawal measures are set by the Regulations, and the text mentions no deadline or specific method of notification.
Under Article 1, food withdrawal means the procedures or measures taken to recover possession of food that is unsafe for the consumer or violates the Law, and to prevent its distribution or display.
This duty is linked to Article 19, which allows the Authority to evaluate food before, during and after marketing. It is also linked to Article 21, under which the Authority establishes a rapid alert system to report any danger to human health originating from food.
If an establishment needs to assess its legal position in a case of withdrawal, it can consult a lawyer specializing in commercial cases.
Practical example
After shipping a batch to stores, a juice factory in Jeddah noticed that the sterilization equipment had broken down during its production. Even before confirming contamination, it must notify the Authority and begin the procedures to withdraw the batch as the Regulations set, because suspicion is enough.
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 20 of the Saudi Food Law
Must a food establishment notify the Authority if it suspects its product?
Yes. The duty arises if the establishment knows or suspects that the food does not meet the requirements.
Who withdraws non-compliant food from the market?
The article requires the food establishment to take the measures necessary to withdraw the food as the Regulations set.
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 19
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.
للهيئة أن تقوِّم الغذاء قبل تسويقه وفي أثنائه وبعد التسويق إذا تطلب الأمر ذلك، ولها - في ضوء نتيجة التقويم - اتخاذ الإجراءات التي تحددها اللائحة.
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.