Article 26 of the Saudi Food Law
المادة 26 من نظام الغذاء · الفصل السابع: الرقابة على الغذاء
Article 26 requires the inspector to keep information confidential except at the request of the Authority or the competent court, follow the Law's procedures, and draw up a violation report with a copy to the violator.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يلتزم المفتش بالآتي :
1 - عدم الكشف عن أي معلومة حصل عليها بسبب عمله، ما لم تطلب منه ذلك الهيئة أو المحكمة المختصة.
2 - التقيد بالأحكام والإجراءات المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام ولوائحه.
3 - تحرير محضر ضبط إذا كانت هناك مخالفة لأحكام هذا النظام ولوائحه، تسلم نسخة منه للمخالف.
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 26 explained in plain English
After the Law gave the inspector broad powers in the previous articles, this article sets obligations that balance those powers and protect establishments. The inspector has three obligations:
- Confidentiality: not to disclose any information obtained because of their work, unless the Authority or the competent court asks them to.
- Compliance with the Law: to adhere to the provisions and procedures set out in the Law and its regulations.
- Violation report: to draw up a violation report if there is a violation of the provisions of the Law and its regulations, and deliver a copy of it to the violator.
The practical effect of each obligation:
- Confidentiality reassures the establishment that information the inspector obtains because of their work will not be disclosed; the only exception in the text is a request from the Authority or the competent court.
- Adherence to the provisions and procedures means that the inspector's powers are not unlimited but governed by what the Law and its regulations say.
- Delivering a copy of the report is the violator's right, enabling them to know what is alleged against them.
This article is linked to Article 25: if the inspector seizes non-compliant food, the existence of the violation requires a report to be drawn up under this article. Someone who has received a violation report and wants to understand their position may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative or criminal cases.
Practical example
After inspecting a sweets factory in Jeddah, the inspector drew up a violation report because of a violation. The factory owner is entitled to receive a copy of the report, and the inspector may not disclose the recipes and records of the factory that he reviewed except at the request of the Authority or the competent court.
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 26 of the Saudi Food Law
Is a violator entitled to a copy of the violation report?
Yes. The inspector must draw up a violation report when there is a violation and deliver a copy of it to the violator.
May a food inspector disclose an establishment's information?
No, unless the Authority or the competent court asks them to.
More articles on Food Monitoring and Inspection
- 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.
- Article 21
Article 21 tasks the Authority with setting up and running a rapid alert system to report food-related dangers to human health and with raising consumer awareness, per procedures in the Regulations.
تنشئ الهيئة وتدير نظام إنذار سريع للتبليغ عن أي خطر مباشر أو غير مباشر على صحة الإنسان يكون مصدره الغذاء، وتوعية المستهلك بالوسائل التي تراها مناسبة، وذلك وفقاً
- Article 22
Article 22 makes the Authority the body legally empowered to inspect food establishments and facilities to apply the Food Law and its regulations, with security agencies' help when needed.
الهيئة هي الجهة المخولة نظاماً بتفتيش المنشآت والمرافق الغذائية فيما يخص تطبيق أحكام هذا النظام ولوائحه، ولها الاستعانة بالجهات الأمنية عند الحاجة.
- Article 23
Article 23 assigns oversight, inspection and the recording of violations to inspectors named by decision of the President, and gives them the powers of criminal investigation officers.
يتولى مفتشون - يصدر بتسميتهم قرار من الرئيس - أعمال الرقابة والتفتيش وضبط المخالفات، وتكون لهم صلاحيات وسلطات مأموري الضبط الجنائي.
- Article 24
Article 24 lets an inspector who shows a work ID enter food establishments, review records and take food samples, and requires the establishment to allow this and not obstruct.
للمفتش عند إبرازه بطاقة هويته الوظيفية دخول المنشآت والمرافق الغذائية لغرض التفتيش، وله الاطلاع على المستندات والسجلات والاحتفاظ بنسخة منها إذا لزم الأمر، كما ي
- Article 25
Article 25 lets an inspector seize food that violates the Law or its regulations and take necessary measures per the Regulations, and makes seizure mandatory if the food is unsafe.
إذا ظهر للمفتش وجود غذاء مخالف لأحكام هذا النظام أو لوائحه؛ فله حجزه واتخاذ التدابير اللازمة وفقاً للإجراءات التي تحددها اللائحة، على أن يكون الحجز وجوبيًّا إذا
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.