Article 21 of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Establishments Law
المادة 21 من نظام المنشآت والمستحضرات الصيدلانية والعشبية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تلتزم مصانع المستحضرات الصيدلانية والعشبية المسجلة في المملكة ومستودعات الاتجار بالمستحضرات الصيدلانية والعشبية الممثلة لها بتوفير مستحضراتها الصيدلانية والعشبية المسجلة مهما قلَّ ثمنها، أو استهلاكها.
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 21 explained in plain English
This article addresses the problem of some products being unavailable on the market, and places an obligation on two parties:
- Pharmaceutical and herbal product factories registered in the Kingdom.
- Trading warehouses representing them.
The obligation is to supply their registered products, however low their price or consumption. A factory, or a warehouse representing it, may not therefore refuse to supply a registered product on the ground that its price is low, its profit is small, or demand for it is limited.
The obligation concerns registered products; whoever registered a product must supply it. This links to Article 20, under which registering factories and their products is handled by committees formed by decision of the President.
This article does not specify any particular quantity that must be supplied, nor does its text state a penalty for breach.
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
A registered medicine is sold at a very low price and demand for it is low, so the warehouse representing the factory wanted to stop supplying it. It may not do so, because the article requires it and the factory to supply the registered product however low its price or consumption.
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 21 of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Establishments Law
Can a pharmaceutical company stop supplying a cheap drug?
No. The article requires registered factories and the warehouses representing them to supply their registered products however low their price.
Does the obligation cover low-consumption drugs?
Yes. The text sets the obligation however low the product's consumption.
Does the obligation cover warehouses?
Yes. It covers trading warehouses representing factories registered in the Kingdom.
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 14
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.
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 الصيدليا
- 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 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.