Latest news with #AlYaum
Gulf Insider
31-03-2025
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Authorities Seize Expired Sweets In Najran Ahead Of Eid
Saudi commerce authorities have seized large quantities of sweets unfit for human consumption during a raid on a suspected facility in Najran, southwest of the kingdom, ahead of the high-demand Eid Al Fitr season, media reports said. The Ministry of Commerce stated that its monitoring teams shut down a facility where illegal workers were producing sweets and pastries using expired ingredients. The workers were referred to authorities for legal action and 'deterrent penalties.' The ministry did not specify the number of arrests. During the raid, officials confiscated and destroyed large quantities of expired sweets, chocolates, and pastries before they could reach the market. Documents and evidence linked to suspected commercial cover-up practices were also seized, according to the Saudi newspaper Al Yaum . Under Saudi Arabia's anti-commercial fraud law, offenders face up to three years in prison, fines of up to SR1 million, or both. Violating expat workers are deported, while citizens involved are publicly named after final court rulings. Additionally, breaching the anti-commercial cover-up law carries penalties of up to five years in prison, fines up to SR5 million, and confiscation of illicit funds upon conviction.
Gulf Insider
16-03-2025
- Health
- Gulf Insider
Report: Non-Saudis Allowed To Own Pharmacies
Saudi Arabia has allowed foreigners to temporarily own pharmacies, reversing an earlier stipulation limiting ownership to Saudi nationals, according to a local newspaper. Al Yaum reported that an official directive has been issued allowing non-Saudis to own pharmacies and herbal preparation centres until an integrated health system comes into effect. The move was taken in response to a request from the Ministry of Health, the report said. The decision stipulates that the activities listed in a related system issued in 1995 are permitted on a temporary basis without the owner being required to hold Saudi citizenship. Article 3 of that system originally stipulated that ownership of pharmacies, herbal preparation facilities, or pharmaceutical consultation centres are restricted to Saudis. Under the same system, the owner or one of the partners was also required to be a pharmacist licensed to practise the profession. The minister of health was authorized to exempt the nationality requirement if there are not enough Saudi pharmacists, provided that the pharmacy, or the facility in the field meets the conditions specified in the relevant regulations. There was no immediate comment from health authorities on the report.
