Article 22 of the Saudi Standards and Quality Law
المادة 22 من نظام المواصفات والجودة · الباب السادس: ضبط مخالفات النظام وإيقاع العقوبات
Violating Article 17 on the quality mark is punished by one or more penalties: suspension of the certificate for up to a year, cancellation, or a fine of up to SAR 1 million, with possible publication of a summary of the decision.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- دون إخلال بأي عقوبة أشد ينص عليها نظام آخر، يعاقب كل من يخالف أحكام المادة (السابعة عشرة) بعقوبة أو (أكثر) من العقوبات الآتية:
أ-تعليق استخدام شهادة علامة الجودة أو العلامات الأخرى الصادرة من الهيئة لمدة لا تزيد على (سنة).
ب- إلغاء شهادة علامة الجودة أو العلامات الأخرى الصادرة من الهيئة.
ج- غرامة لا تزيد على مليون ريال.
2- يجوز للجنة -المنصوص عليها في المادة (الحادية والعشرين) من النظام- تضمين القرار الصادر بالعقوبة النص على نشر ملخصه على نفقة المخالف في صحيفة محلية تصدر في مكان إقامته، فإن لم يكن في مكان إقامته صحيفة ففي أقرب منطقة له، أو نشره في أي وسيلة أخرى مناسبة، وذلك بحسب نوع المخالفة المرتكبة وجسامتها وتأثيرها، على أن يكون نشره بعد تحصن القرار بمضي المدة المحددة نظاماً أو كان الحكم الصادر في شأنه مكتسباً الصفة القطعية.
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 22 explained in plain English
This is the penalties article of the law, and applies to anyone who violates the provisions of Article 17 on the quality mark.
Which violations are meant? Under Article 17: using the quality mark or the other marks issued by the Authority, or advertising them, without a certificate, or not complying with the conditions of use provided in the regulations, or not stopping use when the license ends.
The penalties (one or more):
- Suspending use of the quality mark certificate or the other marks issued by the Authority for a period not exceeding one year.
- Cancelling the quality mark certificate or the other marks.
- A fine not exceeding SAR 1,000,000.
These penalties are "without prejudice to any more severe penalty provided in another law", so if the same act is punishable by a more severe penalty in another law, this article does not prevent its application.
Publishing the decision: the committee provided for in Article 21 may include in the penalty decision the publication of its summary at the violator's expense in a local newspaper published where he resides, or if there is none, in the nearest area to him, or by any other suitable means, according to the type of violation, its gravity and its effect. Publication is made only after the decision becomes final through the lapse of the period set by law, or the judgment issued on it acquires finality.
These penalties are applied by the committee formed under Article 21, and its decision may be challenged before the Administrative Court within 60 days of notification. Someone facing a penalty under this article is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases.
Practical example
An online store in Dammam announces that its products bear the quality mark without having obtained the certificate. Under the article, the committee may punish it with a fine not exceeding SAR 1,000,000, and may decide to publish a summary of the decision at its expense after the decision becomes final or the judgment acquires finality.
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 22 of the Saudi Standards and Quality Law
What is the penalty for using the quality mark without a certificate?
One or more of: suspension of the certificate for a period not exceeding one year, cancellation of it, or a fine not exceeding SAR 1 million.
Can the penalty decision be published?
The committee may include in the decision the publication of its summary at the violator's expense, after the decision becomes final or the judgment acquires finality.
Do these penalties prevent other penalties from being applied?
No. They are without prejudice to any more severe penalty provided in another law.
Articles this article refers to
- 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
- Article 21
The article provides for forming one or more committees of five members, at least three of them legal advisers, to apply the penalties of Article 22, with a grievance to the Administrative Court within 60 days.
1- تشكل لجنة أو أكثر -بقرار من المجلس- من خمسة أعضاء، على أن يكون من بينهم ثلاثة مستشارين نظاميين -على الأقل- يكون أحدهم رئيسًا لها. 2- تتولى اللجنة تطبيق العقو
More articles on Penalties for Violating the Quality Mark
- Article 21
The article provides for forming one or more committees of five members, at least three of them legal advisers, to apply the penalties of Article 22, with a grievance to the Administrative Court within 60 days.
1- تشكل لجنة أو أكثر -بقرار من المجلس- من خمسة أعضاء، على أن يكون من بينهم ثلاثة مستشارين نظاميين -على الأقل- يكون أحدهم رئيسًا لها. 2- تتولى اللجنة تطبيق العقو
- Article 23
The Authority's board must issue the law's regulations within 90 days of its publication in the Official Gazette, to take effect once the law is in force.
يصدر المجلس اللوائح خلال مدة لا تتجاوز (تسعين) يوماً من تاريخ نشر النظام في الجريدة الرسمية، ويعمل بها بعد نفاذه.
- Article 24
The Standards and Quality Law takes effect 90 days after its publication in the Official Gazette and repeals conflicting provisions.
يعمل بالنظام بعد (تسعين) يوماً 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.