Article 14 of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Establishments Law
المادة 14 من نظام المنشآت والمستحضرات الصيدلانية والعشبية
This article limits retail sale of pharmaceutical products to pharmacies, and herbal products to pharmacies and herbal establishments, except what the President decides may be sold elsewhere.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يقصر بيع المستحضرات الصيدلانية بالتجزئة على الصيدليات، ويستثنى من ذلك ما يقرر الرئيس جواز بيعه في غيرها.
2- يقصر بيع المستحضرات العشبية بالتجزئة على الصيدليات ومنشآت بيع المستحضرات العشبية، ويستثنى من ذلك ما يقرر الرئيس جواز بيعه في غيرها.
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 14 explained in plain English
This article regulates retail sale, meaning sale to the consumer, and distinguishes between two kinds of products:
- Pharmaceutical products (medicines): retail sale is limited to pharmacies.
- Herbal products: retail sale is limited to pharmacies and herbal products sales establishments.
The exception: in both cases, what the President (the Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority) decides may be sold elsewhere is excepted. Selling a medicinal or herbal product in a general store is therefore not permitted unless it is among what the President has decided may be sold outside these establishments. The text does not specify these products.
Under Article 1, an herbal product is a plant or herb that has a medical claim and is prepared in pharmaceutical form; the rule therefore concerns these products, not every herb that is sold.
This article comes after Article 13, which bars selling samples prepared to introduce the product, and before Article 15, which bars a pharmaceutical establishment from holding products without documents proving their source and quantities.
To see how this rule affects a particular situation, it is advisable to consult a lawyer who specializes in health and pharmaceutical regulation.
Practical example
The owner of a grocery store in Taif wants to put on sale an herbal product that has a medical claim. He may not do so unless it is a product that the Authority's Chief Executive Officer has decided may be sold outside pharmacies and herbal products sales establishments.
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 14 of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Establishments Law
Can medicines be sold outside pharmacies?
The rule is that retail sale of pharmaceutical products is limited to pharmacies, except what the Authority's Chief Executive Officer decides may be sold elsewhere.
Where can herbal products be sold?
In pharmacies and herbal products sales establishments, and anywhere else the President decides they may be sold.
Who decides which products can be sold outside pharmacies?
The Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.
More articles on Sale and Circulation of Drugs and Herbs
- Article 13
This article bars selling samples of pharmaceutical and herbal products prepared to introduce the product.
لا يجوز بيع عينات المستحضرات الصيدلانية والعشبية المعدة للتعريف بالمنتج.
- Article 15
This article bars a pharmaceutical establishment from holding products without documents proving their source and quantities, and requires manufacturers and warehouses to replace products with only one month of shelf life left.
1- يحظر على المنشأة الصيدلية حيازة أي كمية من المستحضرات الصيدلانية والعشبية دون وجود مستندات تثبت مصدر شرائها وكمياتها. 2- يلتزم مصنع المستحضرات الصيدلانية وال
- Article 19
This article bars selling registered pharmaceutical and herbal products except after the Authority prices them and in the packages it specifies.
لا يجوز بيع المستحضرات الصيدلانية والعشبية المسجلة إلا بعد تسعيرها من الهيئة، ووفقاً للعبوات التي تحددها.
- Article 21
This article requires registered product factories in the Kingdom and the warehouses representing them to supply their registered products, however low their price or consumption.
تلتزم مصانع المستحضرات الصيدلانية والعشبية المسجلة في المملكة ومستودعات الاتجار بالمستحضرات الصيدلانية والعشبية الممثلة لها بتوفير مستحضراتها الصيدلانية والعشبي
- Article 26
This article bars trading warehouses from selling products to anyone other than a pharmacy, an herbal products sales establishment and a licensed health establishment, subject to the Article 14 exception.
مع مراعاة الاستثناء الوارد في المادة (الرابعة عشرة) من النظام، يحظر على مستودعات الاتجار بالمستحضرات الصيدلانية والعشبية بيع المستحضرات الصيدلانية والعشبية لغير
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.