Saudi Arabia Reaffirms Food Safety Efforts on World Food Day

On World Food Day, October 16, the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing reaffirms its commitment to enhancing food safety and improving health supervision of food establishments across the Kingdom in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.

 To advance digital transformation and regulatory efficiency, the ministry has implemented a digital health certificate system for workers in food-related sectors and public health activities, issuing over 1.2 million health certificates in 2024, and the requirements manual was updated to simplify processes. The ministry also coordinated with the Ministry of Health to unify medical examinations for residency permits and expatriate health certificates, launching a joint initiative with the Human Resources Development Fund to support Saudi workers.

 Municipalities conduct daily inspections of food establishments, employing over 2,000 health inspectors, which resulted in more than 2.5 million inspections last year. This led to 555,000 violations, the closure of 34,700 establishments, and the issuance of 635,000 fines. The ministry is enhancing field monitoring by increasing inspections and regulatory tours to improve food safety compliance.

 Additionally, updated requirements for food sectors have been implemented to enhance public health and hygiene standards. A revised penalties schedule for food violations ensures fairness and compliance, supported by effective supervisory and legislative mechanisms to reduce violations and promote a safe food environment.