Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Food and Drug Authority warned that violators of its regulations concerning safety of food, fodders, medicine and medical equipment will face a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail and fines amounting to 10 million riyals, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Establishments dealing in adulterated food will be slapped with fines ranging from 100,000 to 1 million riyals.
In the event of intentionality repeating the crime, the penalty increases to up to 10 years in jail and/or a fine of up to 10 million riyals, according to article 16 of the Food Law.
Any establishment using fodder containing toxic substances or harmful materials faces fines from 200,000 to 1 million riyals, in addition to destruction of the fodder.
Anyone advertising a cosmetic product not listed faces a fine of up to 5 million riyals, according to the Cosmetic Products Law.
Anyone selling veterinary cosmetics without a license faces a fine of up to 5 million riyals.
The penalties include either temporary suspension of the establishment’s license; revoking the license; withdrawing the product and stopping its circulation; cancelling the marketing authorization certificate or referring the case to the Public Prosecution to apply the penal law for forgery crimes, in accordance with article 30 of the Medical Equipment and Products Control Regulation.
SFDA stressed the importance of adhering to the laws and regulations aimed at preserving the safety of citizens and expatriates. The authority regulates, monitors and supervises food, medicine and medical and diagnostic devices and sets mandatory standard specifications for them, whether they are imported or locally manufactured.
It is also responsible for monitoring and examining them in their laboratories or the laboratories of other parties and educating the consumer in everything related to food, medicine, medical instruments and all associated products and cosmetics as well as electronic products that affect human health.
