The Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA) would like to clarify that further to the news communicated via social media and electronic news websites, with regard to “Plastic Rice” product which is made of a mixture of potatoes and sweet potatoes in addition to rice flavor and artificial gum. This plastic Rice can be distinguished from the natural rice only after cooking. SFDA is taking all the necessary actions to restrict entry of this type of rice to the local markets.

His Excellency the Chief Executive Officer of SFDA, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Almishal, stressed that GCC have built a series of standard legislations and mechanisms that helped in protection of Gulf markets from unsafe food.

SFDA inspected over 600 Food Establishments including food factories and major food warehouses and distribution centers kingdom wide. This was in view of His Excellency the Chief Executive Officer of SFDA, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Almishal exceptional plan for inspection of factories and warehouses of highly consumed foods during the month of Ramadan in all districts to ensure their conformity with health requirements. 

SFDA Stopped Production Lines in 66 Water Factories in the various regions of the Kingdom since control of water factories was assigned to SFDA, 16 months ago.

This action comes after transferring the control of all bottled water plants in all regions of the Kingdom to SFDA since 01/04/1436 AH.

H.E. the Chief Executive Officer of SFDA, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Almishal met with Food Importers at the main hall of Riyadh Chamber of Commerce. The meeting was attended by SFDA Vice President for Food Sector Dr. Salah Al Miman, the executive director of local markets control, Dr. Mohammed Al Nassir and a number of food sector staff.

H.E. the Chief Executive Officer of SFDA, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Almishal launched today ‘Safe Handling of Pesticides’ Campaign, at SFDA Headquarters. The purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness about the proper handling of pesticides at the time of purchase, use and storage of same in addition to the methods of protection from insects.                 

 SFDA temporarily suspended meat imports from Ethiopian organic organization until they respond to SFDA comments. SFDA cleared in a statement on it’s website: , that it’s technical team visited Ethiopia for the purpose of accreditation of the Ethiopian Ministry of Animal and Fish via SFDA as an official regulator and thus authorizing the ministry to approve licensed meat and meat products exporting organizations to export meat to the Kingdom in co-ordination with SFDA.

SFDA inspection teams seized 12,774 kilograms of expired food in a warehouse and a factory in Jeddah, Kharj province.
SFDA explained, in a statement, that the teams searched a reservoir at Al Mahjar district in Jeddah, and found in it 7,124 kilograms of pickles and black olives, green olives, dried figs, and Kamaruddin, pickled pepper and cucumber, expired and other food stored under the sun, all were seized and reserved.

SFDA refused clearance of 37 consignment weighs 408 tons of imported food via outlets across the Kingdom, during the month of Rabie Al Thani, 250 thousand kilograms of rice was in it.
SFDA explained in a statement, preventing the entry of this imported food to the Kingdom was for violating the approved technical regulations and standards in chemical, physical or mandatory data card on products.