Article 16 of the Saudi Standards and Quality Law
المادة 16 من نظام المواصفات والجودة · الباب الخامس: الجودة
The Authority may launch competitions and take initiatives on quality in order to improve the quality of products and services in Saudi Arabia.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجوز للهيئة إطلاق مسابقات واتخاذ مبادرات في شأن الجودة؛ بهدف تحسين جودة المنتج والخدمة في المملكة العربية السعودية.
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 16 explained in plain English
This article gives the Authority an incentive tool for raising the level of quality, instead of confining it to mandatory or supervisory tools.
What does the article allow?
- Launching competitions on quality.
- Taking initiatives on quality.
The aim: improving the quality of products and services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Nature of the provision: the article is permissive; it says "the Authority may", meaning the Authority can launch these competitions and initiatives if it sees fit, without being obliged to. The text does not specify the conditions for taking part in the competitions, their prizes or the types of initiatives; these matters are decided by the Authority.
Relationship to other articles: this article is among the law's provisions on quality, alongside Article 15, under which the Board adopts and approves the standards, regulations and documents that set quality specifications for products and services, and Article 17, which regulates granting the quality mark certificate and the conditions for using it. The article also serves one of the aims of standardization, which is contributing to raising the quality of products and services.
Practical effect: local companies can benefit from the competitions and initiatives the Authority launches to highlight the quality of their products or services. Anyone who wants to take part should follow the conditions the Authority announces.
Practical example
A startup in Jeddah offering home maintenance services hears of a competition launched by the Authority to honor services distinguished in quality. This competition is one of the tools the article allows the Authority to use to improve the quality of products and services, and taking part in it is under the conditions the Authority announces.
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 16 of the Saudi Standards and Quality Law
Does the Standards Authority organize quality competitions?
The Authority may launch competitions and take initiatives on quality in order to improve the quality of products and services.
Is the Authority obliged to launch quality competitions?
No. The article is permissive, so the Authority may launch them if it sees fit.
More articles on Quality Mark
- Article 14
The Authority is to prepare a national quality strategy in coordination with relevant bodies, submit it for approval under legal procedures, and supervise its implementation once approved.
تقوم الهيئة بإعداد استراتيجية وطنية للجودة بالتنسيق مع الجهات ذات العلاقة، والرفع بها لاعتمادها وفقاً للإجراءات النظامية، والإشراف على تنفيذها بعد اعتمادها.
- Article 15
The Authority's board of directors adopts and approves the standards, regulations and related documents that set quality specifications for products and services.
يتبنى المجلس ويعتمد المواصفة واللوائح والوثيقة ذات الصلة التي تحدد مواصفات الجودة للمنتج والخدمة.
- Article 17
The quality mark certificate is granted under the regulations; using or advertising the mark without it is prohibited, and holders must follow the conditions and stop using it when the license ends.
1- تُمنح شهادة علامة الجودة والعلامات الأخرى الصادرة من الهيئة، وفقًا للإجراءات والشروط المنصوص عليها في اللوائح ذات الصلة. 2- لا يُسمح لأي شخص باستخدام علامة ا
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.