Article 32 of the Saudi Product Safety Law

This article complements Article 31, which makes the manufacturer responsible for any damage resulting from a defect in the product it placed on the market. It sets out who bears this liability, in three paragraphs.

1. Who counts as a manufacturer:

• The manufacturer.
• The manufacturer of any raw material.
• The manufacturer of component products.
• Any person who, as manufacturer, puts their name, trademark or any other distinctive mark on the product.

2. A manufacturer located outside the Kingdom: the importer or the authorized representative bears all of its legal responsibilities and duties. The regulations set the responsibilities of each.

3. Where the responsible party cannot be identified: if the manufacturer or the importer responsible for placing the product on the market cannot be identified for damage resulting from the defect, all economic operators are jointly liable, unless the identity of the manufacturer, or of the importer in the case of an imported product even if the manufacturer's identity is known, is disclosed within a reasonable period. This is without prejudice to any operator's right of recourse against another.

The third paragraph protects the injured person, whose right is not lost because the identity of the manufacturer or importer is unclear. Conversely, it pushes each economic operator, such as a distributor, to disclose its supplier to avoid joint liability, and it keeps its right of recourse against the party truly responsible.

It is followed by Article 33, which regulates the violations committee. Anyone who has suffered harm or is faced with a compensation claim is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in civil compensation claims.