Article 26 of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Establishments Law
المادة 26 من نظام المنشآت والمستحضرات الصيدلانية والعشبية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع مراعاة الاستثناء الوارد في المادة (الرابعة عشرة) من النظام، يحظر على مستودعات الاتجار بالمستحضرات الصيدلانية والعشبية بيع المستحضرات الصيدلانية والعشبية لغير الصيدلية ومنشأة بيع المستحضرات العشبية والمنشأة الصحية المرخص لها.
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 26 explained in plain English
This article sets to whom a trading warehouse may sell. A warehouse is barred from selling pharmaceutical and herbal products except to three parties:
- A pharmacy.
- An herbal products sales establishment.
- A licensed health establishment.
The warehouse therefore does not sell to individuals or general stores. This is consistent with the definition of the warehouse in Article 1 as the establishment that imports products wholesale, or distributes or sells them.
Subject to the Article 14 exception: the article begins with the phrase "subject to the exception stated in Article 14". Article 14 limits retail sale of medicines to pharmacies, and of herbal products to pharmacies and herbal establishments, except what the President decides may be sold elsewhere. The implication of the link is that products the President has decided may be sold outside these establishments are subject to that exception when applying this prohibition. The text does not elaborate further.
It is followed by Article 27, which allows warehouses to import registered products if the producing factory does not supply them, with the Authority's approval.
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 general store asked a medicine warehouse in Riyadh to sell him a quantity of a medicine that may be sold only in pharmacies. The warehouse may not sell to him, because he is not a pharmacy, an herbal products sales establishment or a licensed health establishment, and the medicine is not among those the President has decided may be sold elsewhere.
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 26 of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Establishments Law
Can a medicine warehouse sell to individuals?
No. A warehouse is barred from selling to anyone other than a pharmacy, an herbal products sales establishment and a licensed health establishment, subject to the Article 14 exception.
Can a warehouse sell to hospitals?
It may sell to a licensed health establishment.
How does this article relate to Article 14?
It applies subject to the Article 14 exception on what the President decides may be sold outside pharmacies and herbal establishments.
Articles this article refers to
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 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
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.