Politics · Saudi Arabia · 16 hrs ago
Saudi Food and Drug Authority to take over chemical permits
From December 1, 2026, Saudi Arabia’s Food and Drug Authority takes over chemical permits from the Ministry of Commerce.
The change covers chemicals listed in the second schedule of the executive regulations for the Chemical Management System.
The authority will issue permits for importing, exporting and re-exporting the listed chemicals, as well as permits for their clearance.
Until the change begins, the Ministry of Commerce holds these responsibilities.
The transfer follows a Saudi Council of Ministers decision assigning the powers to the Food and Drug Authority.
It makes that authority the body responsible for permits involving the chemicals covered by the decision.
The new arrangement is due to begin on December 1, 2026.
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority will take over chemical permit responsibilities from the Ministry of Commerce starting December 1, 2026.
The change covers chemicals listed in the second schedule of the executive regulations of the Chemical Management System.
The authority will issue permits for import, export, re-export and clearance of the covered chemicals.
The transfer follows a Council of Ministers decision assigning these powers to the authority.
- Who
- The Saudi Food and Drug Authority and the Ministry of Commerce.
- What
- The authority will take over responsibility for permits covering specified chemicals, including import, export, re-export and clearance.
- When
- The change takes effect on December 1, 2026.
- Where
- Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- A Council of Ministers decision assigned the powers to the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Council of Ministers issued a decision assigning the chemical permit powers to the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.
The Ministry of Commerce sent an urgent telegram announcing the transfer of authority.
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority is set to take over the permit responsibilities.
- New authority
- Saudi Food and Drug Authority
- Previous authority
- Ministry of Commerce
- Effective date
- December 1, 2026
- Covered chemicals
- Substances in the second schedule of the Chemical Management System regulations
- Permit types
- Import, export, re-export and clearance