In a regulatory crackdown echoing across Saudi markets, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has imposed a staggering SR500,000 fine on a Qassim-based firm. The penalty follows a discovery that the company manipulated import data of banned fish to slip them into the Saudi market unlawfully.
Triggered by a routine inspection request for a shipment comprising eight fish varieties, suspicions arose when discrepancies surfaced between labeling and actual contents. Upon closer scrutiny, inspectors identified river tilapia among the shipment, a species strictly prohibited in the Kingdom. This revelation prompted the rejection of the two-ton consignment and set off legal actions against the offending firm.
Under the stringent Food Law and its executive statutes, the SFDA levied the hefty fine alongside measures to restrict the firm from further food-related activities. This move underscores Saudi Arabia’s firm stance against trafficking in prohibited food items, urging consumers to report any such breaches via established channels.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the SFDA’s vigilance in safeguarding public health and upholding regulatory integrity within the kingdom’s borders.
