Article 27 of the Saudi Food Law

المادة 27 من نظام الغذاء · الفصل الثامن: سحب وتحليل العينات

Article 27 gives the Authority the right to take food samples free of charge to verify compliance with the Law and its regulations, and to analyze them when needed in its own or registered laboratories.

Official text (Arabic)

This article has not been amended since the law was issued.

للهيئة حق سحب عينات من الغذاء دون مقابل؛ للتحقق من مدى مطابقتها لأحكام هذا النظام ولوائحه، وتحليلها إذا لزم الأمر في مختبراتها، أو في المختبرات المسجلة لديها.

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 27 explained in plain English

This article regulates sampling as a right of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. Its main points:

Free of charge: the Authority takes samples of food without paying the establishment for them.
Purpose: to verify the extent to which the food complies with the provisions of the Law and its regulations.
Analysis when needed: samples are analyzed if necessary, so according to the text, taking a sample does not necessarily lead to analysis.
Place of analysis: in the Authority's laboratories or in laboratories registered with it.

The text limits the places of analysis to the Authority's laboratories or those registered with it, and mentions no others.

This provision connects with Article 26, which requires the inspector not to disclose any information obtained because of their work except at the request of the Authority or the competent court, and to draw up a violation report where there is a violation. It also connects with Article 28, which deals with what happens if the analysis results show a violation: the Authority issues a report and may take the necessary measures.

In practice, an establishment is not entitled to demand payment for samples the Authority takes for this purpose, because the text is explicit that they are taken free of charge.

Practical example

The Authority's team took three bottles of olive oil from a shop in Buraidah to verify compliance. The shop is not entitled to claim their price because samples are taken free of charge, and the Authority may analyze them in its own laboratory or in a laboratory registered with it.

Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.

How we write and review content

Administrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case

Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law