Article 33 of the Saudi Food Law
المادة 33 من نظام الغذاء · الفصل العاشر: سحب المنتج الغذائي
Article 33 allows the Authority, where there is evidence that a food product may harm health, to order it withdrawn or recalled and its handling prohibited, per the Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا توافر للهيئة دليل على أن هناك منتجاً غذائيًّا قد يسبب ضرراً على صحة المستهلك، أو الصحة العامة؛ فلها الأمر بسحب المنتج، أو استرجاعه ومنع تداوله وفقاً للإجراءات 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 33 explained in plain English
This article gives the Saudi Food and Drug Authority the power to intervene regarding a particular food product if it may harm health.
The condition: the Authority must have evidence that a food product may cause harm to consumer health or public health. The text requires evidence, but is satisfied with the harm being possible ("may cause").
What the Authority may order:
- Withdrawing the product.
- Or recalling it and prohibiting its handling.
All of this is according to the procedures set by the Regulations. Under Article 1, handling covers the practices food goes through in the food chain, so the prohibition on handling extends to display, sale, distribution, storage and so on.
How does it differ from the previous article? Article 32 deals with food that appears to pose a danger that cannot be avoided by the available measures, whereas this article deals with a product for which there is evidence that it may cause harm, and it does not require that the danger be unavoidable.
It is followed by Article 34, which allows the Authority to order administratively the destruction of a food product that violates the Law and its regulations whenever its handling causes harm to health.
An establishment whose product is subject to a withdrawal or recall order must comply with it, and may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases if it believes the order is unjustified.
Practical example
The Authority received laboratory results proving that a type of potato chips contains a level of a substance that may harm health. It may order the producing company to withdraw the product or recall it from stores and prohibit its handling, according to the procedures set by the Regulations.
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 33 of the Saudi Food Law
What is the difference between withdrawing and recalling a product?
The article mentions both as options for the Authority: withdrawing the product, or recalling it and prohibiting its handling, and it leaves their procedures to the Regulations.
Does the Authority need evidence to withdraw a food product?
Yes. The article requires the Authority to have evidence that the product may cause harm to consumer health or public health.
More articles on Withdrawing and Destroying Food Products
- 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
- Article 32
Article 32 allows the Authority to order food withdrawn, or take appropriate measures, where food poses a health danger that cannot be avoided by the available measures.
إذا ظهر للهيئة أن الغذاء يشكل خطراً على صحة المستهلك أو الصحة العامة، ولا يمكن تفاديه بالتدابير والإجراءات المتاحة؛ فلها الأمر بسحب الغذاء، أو اتخاذ الإجراءات ا
- Article 34
Article 34 allows the Authority to order administratively the destruction of any food product violating the Law or its regulations whenever its handling harms health, with procedures set by the Regulations.
للهيئة أن تأمر إداريًّا بإتلاف أي منتج غذائي مخالف لأحكام هذا النظام ولوائحه متى كان تداوله يسبب ضرراً على صحة المستهلك أو الصحة العامة، وتحدد اللائحة إجراءات ا
- Article 35
Article 35 prohibits the handling of any food product the Authority has decided to withdraw or recall from the market, or to ban from handling.
لا يجوز تداول أي منتج غذائي قررت الهيئة سحبه أو استرجاعه من السوق، أو حظر تداوله.
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.