Article 29 of the Saudi Product Safety Law
المادة 29 من نظام سلامة المنتجات · الباب السادس: مراقبة الأسواق
The inspector must keep confidential the information obtained through their work, but confidentiality does not prevent the competent authorities from disclosing information needed for effective market surveillance or to prevent a safety risk.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يجب على المفتش المحافظة على سرية المعلومات التي يحصل عليها بحكم عمله.
2- لا تحول المحافظة على سرية المعلومات دون إفصاح الجهات المختصة عن المعلومات اللازمة لضمان مراقبة فعالة للأسواق أو لمنع خطر يهدد سلامة المستهلك والممتلكات والبيئة.
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 29 explained in plain English
This article balances two concerns: protecting the confidentiality of businesses' information and protecting the consumer.
Paragraph 1: the duty of confidentiality. The inspector must keep confidential the information obtained through their work. During an inspection the inspector sees documents, records, invoices and commercial information, so this duty reassures businesses that their information will not be exploited or published without justification.
Paragraph 2: the limits of confidentiality. Keeping information confidential does not prevent the competent authorities from disclosing the necessary information in two cases:
- Ensuring effective market surveillance.
- Preventing a risk to the safety of consumers, property and the environment.
Note that the exception concerns disclosure by the competent authorities, and only to the extent of the information needed for one of the two purposes, so it does not permit disclosing everything. This is consistent with the Law's aim of protecting the consumer.
It is preceded by Article 28, which prohibits preventing or obstructing the inspector, and followed by Article 30, which allows the Authority to order the destruction of a violating product after a final judgment of the competent court confiscating it.
Practical example
During an inspection of a factory in Riyadh, an inspector saw the factory's customer list and prices and may not disclose them. But if it turns out that one of the factory's products poses a risk to consumers, confidentiality does not prevent the competent authorities from disclosing the information needed to prevent that risk.
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 29 of the Saudi Product Safety Law
Must a product safety inspector keep information confidential?
Yes. The inspector must keep confidential the information obtained through their work.
Can the competent authorities publish information about a dangerous product?
Yes. Confidentiality does not prevent the competent authorities from disclosing the information needed for effective market surveillance or to prevent a risk to the safety of consumers, property and the environment.
More articles on Market Surveillance and Inspection
- Article 20
The competent authorities may use the services of conformity assessment bodies accepted by the Authority to assess the conformity of a specific product under the Law and regulations.
يحق للجهات المختصة الاستعانة بخدمات جهات تقويم المطابقة على أن تكون مقبولة من الهيئة للقيام بإجراء تقويم المطابقة لمنتَج محدد وفقًا لأحكام النظام واللوائح.
- Article 24
The competent authorities carry out market surveillance in accordance with the rules, procedures and tasks set by the regulations.
تقوم الجهات المختصة بالمراقبة على الأسواق وفقاً للقواعد والإجراءات والمهمات التي تحددها اللوائح.
- Article 25
The Authority prepares a national strategy for product safety and market surveillance, ensures compliance with operators' requirements, and maintains the minimum conformity index.
تتولى الهيئة الآتي: 1- إعداد استراتيجية وطنية لسلامة المنتجات ومراقبة الأسواق، ومتابعة تنفيذها بعد اعتمادها، وتحديثها دوريًّا؛ وفقًا للإجراءات النظامية. 2- التأ
- Article 26
Inspectors appointed by the Board detect and document violations of the Law and regulations. They may enter and inspect facilities, draw up reports, temporarily close premises, seize products, review documents and take samples.
يتولى مفتشون -يعينهم المجلس- مجتمعين أو منفردين ضبط مخالفات أحكام النظام واللوائح وإثباتها، ولهم في سبيل ذلك الآتي: 1- الدخول -في أي وقت- لمنشآت المشغل الاقتصاد
- Article 27
Financial rewards are granted to the inspectors referred to in Article 26 by decision of the Board on the Governor's proposal, as set by the regulations.
تمنح بقرار من المجلس بناء على اقتراح من المحافظ مكافآت مالية للمفتشين المنصوص عليهم في المادة (السادسة والعشرين) من النظام، وفقًا لما تحدده اللوائح.
- Article 28
It is prohibited to prevent an inspector from carrying out inspection and detection work, or to obstruct them in doing so.
يحظر منع المفتش أو إعاقته عن تأدية أعماله المتعلقة بالتفتيش والضبط.
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.