Article 7 of the Saudi Handicrafts and Manual Industries Law
المادة 7 من نظام الحرف والصناعات اليدوية · الفصل الثالث: الواجبات والمحظورات
The article requires craftspeople and those who trade in handmade craft products to comply with the quality standards for craft and handicraft products that the Ministry adopts.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على الحرفي، أو من يقوم بالاتجار بالمنتجات الحرفية اليدوية، الالتزام بمعايير جودة منتجات الحرف والصناعات اليدوية التي تعتمدها الوزارة.
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 7 explained in plain English
This article places a quality obligation on two groups:
- The craftsperson: under Article 1, any natural or legal person who practices a craft or handicraft.
- Anyone who trades in handmade craft products: even if he is not the one who made them.
The obligation is to comply with the quality standards for craft and handicraft products that the Ministry adopts; under the definitions, the Ministry is the Ministry of Culture.
The following points can be noted about this article:
- It is worded as an obligation ("the craftsperson must..."), so it is a duty, not a choice.
- It covers the trader as well as the craftsperson, so responsibility for quality is not limited to the maker.
- It does not state the standards themselves but refers to what the Ministry adopts, so learning these standards requires referring to what the Ministry issues.
The craft meant is the activity Article 2 defines: an activity based mainly on manual work, whether artistic or heritage production, or services such as repair, maintenance, restoration and marketing.
Related to this article are Article 6, which requires entry in the National Register of Craftspeople to obtain the craft license, and Article 8, which prohibits importing the handmade craft products that the Regulations specify, or making models of them.
Anyone who trades in craft products and wants to be sure of his obligations can consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial cases.
Practical example
Fahad owns a shop in Souq Al-Zal in Riyadh selling sadu weaving and handmade textiles that he buys from women craftspeople. Under this article, Fahad, as a trader in craft products, must comply with the quality standards the Ministry of Culture adopts, and so must the women craftspeople who make these products.
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 7 of the Saudi Handicrafts and Manual Industries Law
Is a trader bound by quality standards for craft products?
Yes. The article requires the craftsperson and anyone who trades in handmade craft products to comply with the quality standards the Ministry adopts.
Who adopts the quality standards for craft products?
The Ministry adopts them, which under the Law's definitions is the Ministry of Culture.
More articles on Craftspeople's Duties and Product Quality
- Article 5
The article refers to the Regulations the controls for craftspeople who represent the Kingdom in conferences, events and exhibitions, and prohibits such representation before those controls are met.
1- دون إخلال بالأنظمة والقرارات ذات العلاقة، تحدد اللائحة ضوابط مشاركة الحرفيين الذين يمثلون المملكة في المؤتمرات والملتقيات والفعاليات والمعارض الداخلية والخار
- Article 8
The article prohibits importing the handmade craft products that the Regulations specify, or making models of them.
يحظر استيراد المنتجات الحرفية اليدوية التي تحددها اللائحة أو صناعة نماذج لها.
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.