Saudi Arabia
Country introduction:
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia has a population of approximately 34 million people, and its capital city is Riyadh.
As part of Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom is committed to enhancing quality of life, protecting public health, strengthening food security, and fostering a safe, sustainable, and innovation-driven food system. Food safety is a national priority that supports consumer confidence, facilitates fair trade, promotes investment, and contributes to sustainable economic development.
To further accelerate innovation and economic diversification, Saudi Arabia launched the National Biotechnology Strategy under Saudi Vision 2030. The Strategy aims to position the Kingdom as a regional and global biotechnology hub by advancing biotechnology research, innovation, commercialization, and local manufacturing while promoting sustainability and strengthening national capabilities. Within the agricultural and food sectors, the Strategy supports the responsible application of biotechnology to optimize crop production, enhance food self-sufficiency, improve agricultural productivity, and strengthen resilience to climate change.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) plays a central role in conserving and sustainably utilizing the Kingdom's plant genetic resources. Through the National Committee for Plant Genetic Resources, the Ministry establishes the national regulatory controls governing plant genetic resources, monitors their implementation, and serves as the national reference authority for the supervision and governance of plant genetic resources. This framework supports the conservation, sustainable use, responsible management, and equitable utilization of plant genetic resources in accordance with national legislation and relevant international commitments.
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is the competent authority responsible for regulating food safety in the Kingdom. The SFDA develops science-based food regulations and standards, conducts risk assessments and scientific evaluations, oversees food control and compliance, and supports innovation through transparent, predictable, and risk-based regulatory frameworks that facilitate market access while ensuring food safety and consumer protection.
The SFDA Fourth Strategic Plan further reinforces the Authority's commitment to ensuring product safety while enabling innovation. One of its strategic priorities is the development of regulations and regulatory controls for emerging technologies and biotechnology products. This strategic direction supports the safe development, evaluation, authorization, and commercialization of innovative food products by applying science-based regulatory approaches that protect public health, encourage responsible innovation, strengthen consumer confidence, provide regulatory certainty for industry, and promote investment in advanced food technologies.
Saudi Arabia actively contributes to the development and harmonization of international food standards through its participation in international and regional organizations, including the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO), the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), and the Arab Industrial Development, Standardization and Mining Organization (AIDSMO). Through these platforms, the Kingdom promotes internationally recognized, science-based standards that protect consumer health, facilitate fair trade, support innovation, and strengthen Saudi Arabia's position.
Saudi Arabia's commitment to advancing the international food safety agenda is reflected in its election as Vice-Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, underscoring the international community's confidence in the Kingdom's scientific expertise, regulatory excellence, and leadership. Through the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), the Kingdom actively supports the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) by promoting science-based decision-making, fostering international cooperation, and contributing to the development and harmonization of international food standards. These efforts enhance consumer protection, facilitate fair practices in international food trade, strengthen food safety, encourage innovation, and reinforce Saudi Arabia's role as a trusted partner in shaping the future of international food safety.
As part of Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom is committed to enhancing quality of life, protecting public health, strengthening food security, and fostering a safe, sustainable, and innovation-driven food system. Food safety is a national priority that supports consumer confidence, facilitates fair trade, promotes investment, and contributes to sustainable economic development.
To further accelerate innovation and economic diversification, Saudi Arabia launched the National Biotechnology Strategy under Saudi Vision 2030. The Strategy aims to position the Kingdom as a regional and global biotechnology hub by advancing biotechnology research, innovation, commercialization, and local manufacturing while promoting sustainability and strengthening national capabilities. Within the agricultural and food sectors, the Strategy supports the responsible application of biotechnology to optimize crop production, enhance food self-sufficiency, improve agricultural productivity, and strengthen resilience to climate change.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) plays a central role in conserving and sustainably utilizing the Kingdom's plant genetic resources. Through the National Committee for Plant Genetic Resources, the Ministry establishes the national regulatory controls governing plant genetic resources, monitors their implementation, and serves as the national reference authority for the supervision and governance of plant genetic resources. This framework supports the conservation, sustainable use, responsible management, and equitable utilization of plant genetic resources in accordance with national legislation and relevant international commitments.
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is the competent authority responsible for regulating food safety in the Kingdom. The SFDA develops science-based food regulations and standards, conducts risk assessments and scientific evaluations, oversees food control and compliance, and supports innovation through transparent, predictable, and risk-based regulatory frameworks that facilitate market access while ensuring food safety and consumer protection.
The SFDA Fourth Strategic Plan further reinforces the Authority's commitment to ensuring product safety while enabling innovation. One of its strategic priorities is the development of regulations and regulatory controls for emerging technologies and biotechnology products. This strategic direction supports the safe development, evaluation, authorization, and commercialization of innovative food products by applying science-based regulatory approaches that protect public health, encourage responsible innovation, strengthen consumer confidence, provide regulatory certainty for industry, and promote investment in advanced food technologies.
Saudi Arabia actively contributes to the development and harmonization of international food standards through its participation in international and regional organizations, including the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO), the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), and the Arab Industrial Development, Standardization and Mining Organization (AIDSMO). Through these platforms, the Kingdom promotes internationally recognized, science-based standards that protect consumer health, facilitate fair trade, support innovation, and strengthen Saudi Arabia's position.
Saudi Arabia's commitment to advancing the international food safety agenda is reflected in its election as Vice-Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, underscoring the international community's confidence in the Kingdom's scientific expertise, regulatory excellence, and leadership. Through the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), the Kingdom actively supports the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) by promoting science-based decision-making, fostering international cooperation, and contributing to the development and harmonization of international food standards. These efforts enhance consumer protection, facilitate fair practices in international food trade, strengthen food safety, encourage innovation, and reinforce Saudi Arabia's role as a trusted partner in shaping the future of international food safety.
Regulatory framework:
My country has a regulatory framework that requires the competent authority to conduct safety assessment of GM food.
Structure for GM food safety assessment:
My country has competent authority, agency, organization, ministry, department, committee, commission or a system/mechanism that is tasked to conduct or review GM food safety assessment.
Supplemental information (regulatory framework):
Saudi Arabia has developed the following technical regulations and standards for genetically modified foods, to ensure the safety of these products for the consumer health:
SFDA.FD/GSO 2141: General Requirements for Genetically Modified Unprocessed Agricultural Products
SFDA.FD/GSO 2142: General Requirements for Genetically Modified Processed Food and Feed
SFDA.FD/GSO 2143: General requirements for risk assessment and traceability for genetically modified products
SFDA.FD/GSO 2371: General requirements for risk assessment and traceability for genetically modified products
SFDA.FD/ GSO CAC/GL 44: Compilation of Codex texts relevant to the labelling of foods derived from modern biotechnology
SFDA.FD/GSO CAC/GL 45: Guideline for the conduct of food safety assessment of foods derived from recombinant-dna plants
SFDA.FD/GSO CAC/GL 46: Guideline for the conduct of food safety assessment of foods produced using recombinant-DNA microorganisms
SFDA.FD/GSO 2502: Compilation of Codex texts relevant to the labelling of foods derived from modern biotechnology
SFDA.FD/GSO ISO 21569: Foodstuffs — Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products — Nucleic acid extraction
SFDA.FD/GSO ISO/TS 21569-2: Horizontal methods for molecular biomarker analysis -- Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products -- Part 2: Construct-specific real-time PCR method for detection of event FP967 in linseed and linseed prod
SFDA.FD/GSO ISO 21569-3: Horizontal methods for molecular biomarker analysis -- Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products -- Part 3: Construct-specific real-time PCR method for detection of P35S-pat-sequence for screening genetic
GSO ISO/TS 21569-4: Horizontal methods for molecular biomarker analysis — Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products — Part 4: Real-time PCR based screening methods for the detection of the P-nos and P-nos-nptII DNA sequences
GSO ISO/TS 21569-5: Horizontal methods for molecular biomarker analysis — Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products — Part 5: Real-time PCR based screening method for the detection of the FMV promoter (P-FMV) DNA sequence
GSO ISO/TS 21569-6: Horizontal methods for molecular biomarker analysis — Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products — Part 6: Real-time PCR based screening methods for the detection of cry1Ab/Ac and Pubi-cry DNA sequences
SFDA.FD/GSO ISO 21570: Foodstuffs — Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products — Quantitative nucleic acid based methods
SFDA.FD/GSO ISO 21571: Foodstuffs — Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products — Nucleic acid extraction
SFDA.FD/GSO ISO 21572: Foodstuffs — Molecular Biomarker Analysis — Immunochemical Methods For The Detection And Quantification Of Proteins
SFDA.FD/GSO ISO 24276: Food stuffs- Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products- General requirements and definitions.
To obtain the technical regulations and standards, you can visit the SFDA’s standard web store https://mwasfah.sfda.gov.sa
SFDA.FD/GSO 2141: General Requirements for Genetically Modified Unprocessed Agricultural Products
SFDA.FD/GSO 2142: General Requirements for Genetically Modified Processed Food and Feed
SFDA.FD/GSO 2143: General requirements for risk assessment and traceability for genetically modified products
SFDA.FD/GSO 2371: General requirements for risk assessment and traceability for genetically modified products
SFDA.FD/ GSO CAC/GL 44: Compilation of Codex texts relevant to the labelling of foods derived from modern biotechnology
SFDA.FD/GSO CAC/GL 45: Guideline for the conduct of food safety assessment of foods derived from recombinant-dna plants
SFDA.FD/GSO CAC/GL 46: Guideline for the conduct of food safety assessment of foods produced using recombinant-DNA microorganisms
SFDA.FD/GSO 2502: Compilation of Codex texts relevant to the labelling of foods derived from modern biotechnology
SFDA.FD/GSO ISO 21569: Foodstuffs — Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products — Nucleic acid extraction
SFDA.FD/GSO ISO/TS 21569-2: Horizontal methods for molecular biomarker analysis -- Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products -- Part 2: Construct-specific real-time PCR method for detection of event FP967 in linseed and linseed prod
SFDA.FD/GSO ISO 21569-3: Horizontal methods for molecular biomarker analysis -- Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products -- Part 3: Construct-specific real-time PCR method for detection of P35S-pat-sequence for screening genetic
GSO ISO/TS 21569-4: Horizontal methods for molecular biomarker analysis — Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products — Part 4: Real-time PCR based screening methods for the detection of the P-nos and P-nos-nptII DNA sequences
GSO ISO/TS 21569-5: Horizontal methods for molecular biomarker analysis — Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products — Part 5: Real-time PCR based screening method for the detection of the FMV promoter (P-FMV) DNA sequence
GSO ISO/TS 21569-6: Horizontal methods for molecular biomarker analysis — Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products — Part 6: Real-time PCR based screening methods for the detection of cry1Ab/Ac and Pubi-cry DNA sequences
SFDA.FD/GSO ISO 21570: Foodstuffs — Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products — Quantitative nucleic acid based methods
SFDA.FD/GSO ISO 21571: Foodstuffs — Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products — Nucleic acid extraction
SFDA.FD/GSO ISO 21572: Foodstuffs — Molecular Biomarker Analysis — Immunochemical Methods For The Detection And Quantification Of Proteins
SFDA.FD/GSO ISO 24276: Food stuffs- Methods of analysis for the detection of genetically modified organisms and derived products- General requirements and definitions.
To obtain the technical regulations and standards, you can visit the SFDA’s standard web store https://mwasfah.sfda.gov.sa
Relevant contact details:
Saudi Food and Drug Authority
GM food safety assessment guidelines:
My country follows the relevant Codex Guidelines or national/regional guidelines that are in line with the Codex Guidelines in conducting safety assessment of GM food.
Conduct of GM food safety assessment:
My country has never conducted food safety assessment of GM food but is planning to conduct such assessment in the near future.
Supplemental information (assessment):
Regulation stacked events:
Stacked events require full assessment as a new GM event.
Supplemental information (stacked events):
GM food/feed production:
My country does not produce any GM food or feed.
GM food/feed imports:
My country allows imports GM food or feed upon authorization.
Supplemental information (production and trade):
If imported food or feed contains more than one percent biotech content, each shipment must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by a competent government agency stating that the GE ingredient (s) used in the foodstuff is/are approved in the country of origin for human or animal consumption. However, our regulations do not allow imports of foodstuffs that contain GM animal products.
The following link provide all information about the requirements for importing and clearance of food products:
https://www.sfda.gov.sa/sites/default/files/2022-03/SFDAFood4654E.pdf
https://www.sfda.gov.sa/sites/default/files/2021-11/SFADFgdfg_1.pdf
The following link provide all information about the requirements for importing and clearance of food products:
https://www.sfda.gov.sa/sites/default/files/2022-03/SFDAFood4654E.pdf
https://www.sfda.gov.sa/sites/default/files/2021-11/SFADFgdfg_1.pdf
LLP/AP incidents:
My country does not monitor LLP/AP situations.
Supplemental information (LLP/AP incidents):
Labelling requirement:
My country has a mandatory and positive labeling regulation on GM food (i.e., It contains GMO).
Supplemental information (labelling requirement):
Labelling requirements:
If the product consists of more than one ingredient with the GM higher than 1%, the words (geneticallymodified) or (produced from genetically modified, name of the ingredient) shall appear clearly and easily to be read in the list of ingredients in parentheses immediately following the ingredient concerned with same font size and different color.
Technical regulations for labelling requirements are:
SFDA.FD GSO 9 Labeling Of Prepackaged Food Stuffs
SFDA.FD/GSO 2142 General Requirements for Genetically Modified Processed Food and Feed
If the product consists of more than one ingredient with the GM higher than 1%, the words (geneticallymodified) or (produced from genetically modified, name of the ingredient) shall appear clearly and easily to be read in the list of ingredients in parentheses immediately following the ingredient concerned with same font size and different color.
Technical regulations for labelling requirements are:
SFDA.FD GSO 9 Labeling Of Prepackaged Food Stuffs
SFDA.FD/GSO 2142 General Requirements for Genetically Modified Processed Food and Feed
Relevant links:
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