Article 4 of the Saudi Product Safety Law
المادة 4 من نظام سلامة المنتجات · الباب الثاني: أحكام عامة
The article sets the principles for applying the Law: no discrimination between local and imported products, proportionality of requirements and penalties to the hazard, coordination between bodies, and transparency and stakeholder involvement.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تراعى المبادئ الآتية عند تطبيق أحكام النظام:
1- عدم التمييز بين المنتجات المحلية والمستوردة، التي توضع أو تعرض في الأسواق، فيما يتصل بالإلزام باللوائح الفنية.
2- تناسب المتطلبات والإجراءات التصحيحية والعقوبات التي تقرر وفقًا للنظام مع شدة الخطر وخطورة المخالفة.
3- التنسيق الفعال والتعاون بين جميع الجهات ذات العلاقة بتطبيق النظام.
4- الشفافية في تطبيق أحكام النظام، وإشراك جميع أصحاب المصالح.
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 4 explained in plain English
This article sets four principles that must be observed when applying the provisions of the Law, and they guide the work of the competent bodies and the interpretation of its provisions:
- Non-discrimination: no discrimination between local and imported products placed or made available on the markets, as regards the obligation to comply with technical regulations. Imports are not burdened, nor local products eased, in this respect.
- Proportionality: that the requirements, corrective actions and penalties be proportionate to the severity of the hazard and the seriousness of the violation.
- Effective coordination and cooperation between all bodies concerned with applying the Law.
- Transparency in applying the provisions of the Law, and involving all stakeholders.
Note that the principle of non-discrimination is limited in the text to its scope, the obligation to comply with technical regulations, which under Article 1 are the regulations adopted by the Board that set the requirements applied compulsorily to a product or category of products.
As for the principle of proportionality, in practice it means that a minor violation is not treated like a serious one, and a serious violation by definition is one likely to cause serious harm to the consumer's health or safety, property or the environment.
It is preceded by Article 3, which sets the scope of application, and followed by Article 5, which prohibits manufacturing, importing, marketing, circulating or advertising unsafe products.
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 4 of the Saudi Product Safety Law
Is an imported product treated differently from a local one?
No. One of the Law's principles is non-discrimination between local and imported products as regards the obligation to comply with technical regulations.
Must the penalty be proportionate to the violation?
Yes. One of the Law's principles is that the requirements, corrective actions and penalties be proportionate to the severity of the hazard and the seriousness of the violation.
More articles on Scope of the Product Safety Law
- Article 1
The article defines the terms of the Product Safety Law, such as product, consumer, manufacturer, importer, distributor, economic operator, technical regulations, hazard and product recall.
يقصد بالعبارات والمصطلحات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني المبينة أمامها، ما لم يقتضِ السياق غير ذلك: النظام: نظام سلامة المنتجات. اللوائح: اللائحة ال
- Article 2
The Law aims to protect the consumer by preventing the hazard associated with products placed or made available on the Kingdom's markets, and by setting out how hazards and risks are dealt with.
يهدف النظام إلى حماية المستهلك من خلال منع الخطر المرتبط بالمنتجات التي توضع أو تعرض في أسواق المملكة، وبيان أسلوب التعامل مع الخطر والمخاطر المرتبطة بتلك المنت
- Article 3
The Law applies to all products, including those circulated electronically, except products whose competence is assigned to the Food and Drug Authority.
تطبق أحكام النظام على جميع المنتجات، وتشمل المنتجات المتداولة من خلال الوسائل الإلكترونية؛ عدا المنتجات المسند اختصاصها إلى الهيئة العامة للغذاء والدواء.
- Article 36
The Authority's board issues the regulations within ninety days of the Law's publication in the Official Gazette, and they take effect from the date the Law takes effect.
يصدر المجلس اللوائح خلال (تسعين) يوماً من تاريخ نشر النظام في الجريدة الرسمية، ويعمل بها من تاريخ نفاذه.
- Article 37
The Product Safety Law takes effect 90 days after its publication in the Official Gazette and repeals any provisions that conflict with it.
يعمل بالنظام بعد (تسعين) يومًا من تاريخ نشره في الجريدة الرسمية، ويلغي ما يتعارض معه من أحكام.
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.