SFDA will begin after tomorrow (Friday) 15/10/1436H, to receive applications for release of drugs & medical Supplies- including narcotic drugs  or psychotropic substances for Hajj Missions or governmental entities arriving at or departing from the Kingdom, for the use of their patients, jupon release procedures and controls were identified.
SFDA clarified that missions shall submit  applications for release to SFDA offices at customs points of entry through which the drugs or medical supplies will arrive< showing the number of mission members, name of mission head, name of pharmacist or technician accompanying the mission,  responsible for the inventory of the narcotic drugs  or psychotropic substances.
SFDA asked that application shall be accompanied by an undertaking from the mission to limit usage of such drugs and medical supplies to mission members only at their responsibility and not to sell or dispense same by any other means and to take back the remaining or damaged or used drugs and containers  at their departure. A detailed list of the dispensed quantity, reason for dispense, remaining and damaged quantities shall be submitted to SFDA branch at the point of entry customs in the appropriate form, before departure.
SFDA also requested that a list of the required drugs shall be attached to the application, approved by the appropriate authority in the country of the mission, including the scientific name, pharmaceutical format, concentration, size and required quantity of the drug. A soft copy of the list shall be provided on Excel file, in addition to a list of the medical supplies and devices, approved by the appropriate authority in the country of the mission, stating the name of the material or device and required quantity. A soft copy of the list shall be provided on Excel file.
SFDA pointed out that the mission must have a medical centre or  physician. Supervision and responsibility for these drugs shall be shouldered by the mission head. The required drugs shall be free from any restricted substances, locally or internationally.
SFDA limited the importation of drugs and medical supplies to King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Airport in Madinah and that entry of such drugs shall only be approved through these points of entry.
When requesting re-export of the remaining drugs and medical supplies belonging to the hajj mission due to departure, SFDA stressed importance of submission   of a list of dispensed drugs, reasons, remaining and damaged drugs. Distribution of excess or remaining quantities to any entity is not allowed and these quantities shall be re-exported.
SFDA clarified that the mission shall import only the required quantities of drugs and medical supplies for the use of  their hajj mission. Big quantities, exceeding their needs, shall not be imported. SFDA reserves the right to reject any product or quantity exceeding the needs of the mission, according to SFDA’s discretion.