Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — A draft regulation proposes maximum jail term of five years and SR10 million fine for manufacturing or importing banned or counterfeit pesticides. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture revealed that an update has been proposed to the article of penalties under the Pesticides Law of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

According to the draft, if the violation is not serious and does not cause significant harm to humans, animals, plants, the environment, or public health, the violator will be warned and given a grace period to rectify the violation.

The draft clarifies that a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to SR10,000,000, or one of these two penalties, will be applied to anyone who manufactures or imports any banned or counterfeit pesticide. The Public Prosecution will investigate the violations and bring the case before the competent court to impose the penalties stipulated in that article. The Public Prosecution may double the penalty imposed on the violator in case of recidivism.

The draft indicated that the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is responsible for reviewing violations of the regulations and their corresponding provisions related to public health pesticides, imposing penalties, and approving these penalties by the president or his authorized person.

When imposing penalties, the ministry and the authority may require the violator to remove the violation and double the fine in the event of repeating the offense. A violation is considered as a repeat offense if it occurs within three years of the date of the previous violation.

The materials involved in the violation will be destroyed by a company specializing in the disposal of chemical materials, or re-exported to the country of origin, at the violator's expense in both cases. In addition to the fine, the facility where the violation occurred may be temporarily closed for a period not exceeding six months or permanently closed. Appeals against the penalty decision may be filed before the Administrative Court in accordance with its regulations.