Article 16 of the Saudi Product Safety Law

This article governs product traceability systems. Under Article 1, a traceability system is a system that makes it possible to identify and trace the product and the economic operators taking part in its supply chain, and includes developing electronic solutions and placing a label on the product or its packaging or accompanying documents where it cannot be placed on the product.

The article distinguishes between two cases:

• If the operator has its own traceability system: it must be linked to the Authority. The wording here is mandatory.
• If it has no traceability system of its own: the Authority may request it to use the Authority's traceability system, for a fee issued by decision of the Authority's board of directors as the regulations specify.

The difference between the two cases is that linking is required in the first, whereas in the second the matter is left to the Authority's request. The article does not specify the amount of the fee; it is issued by decision of the Board in accordance with the regulations.

It is preceded by Article 15, which requires the economic operator to identify to the competent bodies, when they request, who supplied the product to it and to whom it delivered it, and a traceability system is a practical tool for achieving this. Article 17 follows, setting what the technical regulations must include.