Ministry of Municipalities, SFDA update table of Food Law violations

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Municipalities and Housing and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) issued the updated version of Food Law violations, to enhance food safety and raise regulatory compliance among food establishments.

According to the Ministry, the updated classifications of violations under the Food Law focus on criteria that take into account the size of the establishment and the type of economic activity. This contributes to ensuring fairness in applying penalties and encourages small and medium enterprises to comply without discrimination.

The update introduces a gradual mechanism in enforcing measures; the principle of warnings applies to non-severe violations with a corrective grace period, while penalties are imposed directly for severe violations that affect consumer safety and public health.

It added that the violations now cover new elements in the food supply chain, including delivery agents, food traceability, handling of food poisoning cases, maintaining food records, and emphasizing documentation and transparency to protect both consumers and establishments.

The updated requirements also include strict conditions for menus related to salt content, caffeine, and physical activity, in order to support a healthy lifestyle and enable individuals to make informed dietary choices, the Ministry stated.

The ministry and SFDA stressed that the updated classification of violations represents an integrated regulatory system designed to reinforce the concept of prevention before punishment. The authorities further urged food establishments to comply with food safety standards to strengthen adherence to approved regulations and legislations.