Article 37 of the Saudi Food Law

After Article 36 set the penalties imposed on the violator, this article protects the right of the injured person.

Content of the provision: anyone harmed by any violation of the provisions of the Food Law has the right to claim compensation for the damage caused by that violation, before the competent court.

Elements of the right:

• Holder of the right: the person harmed by the violation; the text is general and does not limit it to the consumer.
• Cause of the right: a violation of the provisions of the Law.
• Subject of compensation: the damage caused by that violation, so the harm must result from the violation.
• Forum: the competent court, which the text does not name.

Penalty and compensation are different things: a penalty is a sanction imposed by the Authority, the committee or the court under Article 36, while compensation is a private right of the injured person, which they claim themselves. The text does not require that a penalty have been imposed before compensation is claimed.

The article does not specify how compensation is assessed or the time limit for filing a claim; the text does not address these matters. A person who has suffered harm would do well to keep what proves the violation and the harm, such as invoices and medical reports, and to consult a lawyer specializing in civil and compensation cases to assess their position.