Article 8 of the Saudi Private Laboratories Law

This article sets prior steps that must precede assigning the task of testing goods to the private laboratory, so that the matter is announced and known to all:

• A decision by the competent authority: the competent authority (according to its definition in Article 1) issues a decision specifying the goods to be tested by the private laboratory.
• Timing: the decision is issued 60 days before the task is assigned to the private laboratory.
• Announcement: this is after announcing them in the Official Gazette.
• Notification: the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority is notified of that, which is of particular importance for imported goods passing through customs ports.

This article was amended by Royal Decree No. M/31 dated 6/4/1443 AH, and the text presented is the text in force.

This period gives traders and importers time to learn which goods will be tested at private laboratories before that actually begins. After assignment, the laboratory is bound by Article 9, including limiting itself to conducting tests for goods specified in the licence, maintaining accuracy and honesty, and keeping confidentiality when transferring samples and test results.