Article 30 of the Saudi Food Law

This article deals with a delicate situation: what does the Authority do if there is reason for concern about a certain food, but science has not yet settled that it is harmful? The answer is precautionary measures.

Conditions for taking them:

• The Authority has grounds to believe that the food may cause harm to the health of the consumer or to public health.
• There is no conclusive scientific evidence confirming that.

In that case the Authority may take the precautionary measures necessary to control the risks, but the text limits this power with three safeguards:

1. Taking into account the size of the potential harm, so the measure is proportionate to the risk.
2. Avoiding unnecessary restrictions.
3. Reviewing the measures within a reasonable period in light of the results of risk assessment, so they are not permanent by nature.

The text does not specify the type of measures or the length of the "reasonable period". But the three safeguards serve as guarantees for establishments so that caution does not turn into unjustified restrictions.

This article completes the preventive approach allowed by Article 29, and is followed by Article 31, which allows the Authority to order the closure of a food establishment or any of its facilities where there is a potential danger to consumer health or public health. Note that the article ties the review of measures to the results of risk assessment, which is one element of risk analysis as defined in Article 1. An establishment that believes a precautionary measure has exceeded these safeguards can consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases.