Article 2 of the Saudi Private Laboratories Law
المادة 2 من نظام المختبرات الخاصة
The article allows the competent Minister, by decision, to use qualified and licensed private national laboratories to test local and imported goods.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز بقرار من الوزير المُختص الاستِعانة بالمُختبرات الوطنية الخاصة المؤهلة، والمُرخصة لغرض فحص السلع المحلية والمُستوردة.
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 2 explained in plain English
This article opens the door for the private sector to take part in testing goods, rather than testing being limited to government laboratories.
The provision rests on several elements:
- The instrument: using them is by decision of the competent Minister, so it is permitted and not mandatory, and its assessment is left to the Minister.
- Type of laboratory: the laboratory must be a private national one, qualified, and licensed; one of these attributes is not enough without the others.
- The purpose: testing local and imported goods.
Referring back to Article 1, goods are commercial goods produced locally or imported, whether materials, devices, tools or otherwise; testing covers any analysis, calibration or inspection aimed at determining performance characteristics, efficiency, effectiveness or conformity; and a laboratory is any place prepared for testing any of the goods.
As for the conditions for the licence itself, they come in Article 3, which requires providing qualified specialist staff and the necessary equipment and devices as determined by the competent authority and the Center.
Practical example
A company imports electrical appliances through the port of Jeddah, and a decision is issued by the competent Minister to use private laboratories to test this type of goods. Samples of its shipment may be tested at a qualified and licensed private national laboratory instead of the government laboratory.
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 2 of the Saudi Private Laboratories Law
May government bodies use a private laboratory to test goods?
Yes, by decision of the competent Minister, provided the laboratory is a private national one that is qualified and licensed.
Does testing in private laboratories cover imported goods?
Yes. The article provides for testing local and imported goods.
More articles on Definitions of Private Laboratories and the Competent Authorities
- Article 1Amended by M/31
The article defines the basic terms of the Private Laboratories Law: the competent authority, the Center, goods, testing and the laboratory.
تدُل المُصطلحات الآتية أينما وردت في هذا النظام على المعاني الموضحة أمامها : أ- الجهة المختصة: وزارة التجارة، أو وزارة الصحة، أو وزارة البيئة والمياه والزراعة،
- Article 16Amended by M/31
The article assigns issuing the Implementing Regulations of the Private Laboratories Law to the Minister of Commerce in agreement with a number of ministries and the Food and Drug Authority.
يصدر وزير التجارة - بالاتفاق مع كل من وزارات: ( الداخلية، والصحة، والبيئة والمياه والزراعة، والصناعة والثروة المعدنية، والشؤون البلدية والقروية والإسكان)، والهي
- Article 17
The article provides for publishing the Private Laboratories Law in the Official Gazette and applying it 180 days after the date of its publication.
يُنشر هذا النظام في الجريدة الرسمية ، ويُعمل بِه بعد مائة وثمانين يومًا من تاريخ نشره.
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.