The Authority enjoys public legal personality, financial and administrative independence, and is organizationally linked to the Minister. Its main headquarters is in the city of Riyadh, and it may, when necessary, establish branches or offices within the Kingdom.

The Authority is the competent body in the Kingdom for food security, overseeing the availability of all strategic commodities, and aims to regulate, enhance, and develop food security in a manner that ensures the protection of the national interests of the state and its national security, and to monitor compliance with the regulations and plans issued in this regard, in coordination with the relevant entities.

• The authority, in order to achieve its objectives - without prejudice to the competencies of other entities - shall exercise the following competencies and tasks:

• 1- Propose projects of laws, regulations, policies, and strategies related to its competencies, propose amendments to those in force, and submit what requires taking legal procedures in this regard.

• 2- Propose strategic goods and update them when necessary, in coordination with the relevant entities, and submit what requires taking legal procedures in this regard.

• 3- Coordinate with the relevant entities to set policies and plans for responding to emergencies related to food security, recovering from them, managing and supervising them, updating them, and submitting what is required according to legal procedures.

• 4- Design and manage an early warning system, in coordination with the relevant entities.

• 5- Develop plans and policies for strategic storage related to the food security system, supervise their implementation, and submit what requires completing legal procedures in this regard.

• 6- Set standards, procedures, regulations, and requirements for storing strategic goods, monitor compliance with them, and update them, without prejudice to any standards or regulations approved by other relevant entities.

• 7- Set the necessary regulations and requirements for the licenses it issues according to its competencies.

• 8- Provide an investment environment for investors and the private sector - in coordination with the relevant entities - in the fields of the authority's work, supervise the related plans and programs, and ensure their alignment with related efforts.

• 9- Develop its revenue sources through investment and strategic partnerships with the private sector, ensuring the performance of its tasks and achieving its objectives, according to legal procedures.

• 10- Monitor the necessary data to support analyses and proactive detection of crises related to the food security system, collect them, and take the necessary actions to ensure avoiding those crises.

• 11- Monitor the targeted goods by strategic storage plans related to the food security system stored with the private sector, their rotation and usage mechanisms, and take necessary actions regarding what the authority observes in this regard.

• 12- Measure levels of food loss and waste at all stages of the value chain, set the necessary policies, plans, and targets to reduce food loss and waste, including recycling, and develop the necessary programs for that in coordination with the relevant entities, according to its competencies.

• 13- Develop awareness programs to reduce food loss and waste, in coordination with the relevant entities, and monitor their implementation.

• 14- Coordinate with all entities concerned with the food security system to organize efforts related to the system.

• 15- Develop a comprehensive plan to build capacities related to the food security system, in coordination with the relevant entities.

• 16- Monitor compliance with laws, regulations, and policies related to the food security system, and take necessary actions in coordination with the relevant entities regarding any violations of those laws and regulations.

• 17- Electronic linkage with governmental and non-governmental entities to obtain information and data related to its competencies and perform its tasks.

• 18- Conclude agreements and memorandums of understanding related to food security fields with relevant entities inside and outside the Kingdom, according to the followed legal procedures, in coordination with the relevant entities.

• 19- Hold conferences, seminars, and workshops related to food security fields, and participate in them inside and outside the Kingdom, according to the followed legal procedures.

• 20- Support research and studies in food security fields, whether individually or in partnership with relevant entities.

• 21- Represent the Kingdom - regionally and internationally - within the limits of food security fields, according to legal procedures.

• The authority, in order to achieve its objectives - without prejudice to the competencies of other entities - shall exercise the following competencies and tasks:

• 1- Propose draft laws, regulations, policies, and strategies related to its competencies, propose amendments to those in force, and submit what requires taking legal procedures in this regard.

• 2- Propose strategic goods and update them when necessary, in coordination with the relevant entities, and submit what requires taking legal procedures in this regard.

• 3- Coordinate with the relevant entities to develop policies and plans to respond to emergencies related to food security, recover from them, manage and supervise them, update them, and submit what is required according to legal procedures.

• 4- Design and manage an early warning system, in coordination with the relevant entities.

• 5- Develop plans and policies for strategic storage related to the food security system, supervise their implementation, and submit what requires completing legal procedures in this regard.

• 6- Set standards, procedures, regulations, and requirements for storing strategic goods, monitor compliance with them, and update them, without prejudice to any standards or regulations approved by other relevant entities.

• 7- Set the necessary regulations and requirements for the licenses it issues according to its competencies.

• 8- Provide an investment environment for investors and the private sector - in coordination with the relevant entities - in the fields of the authority's work, supervise the related plans and programs, and ensure their alignment with related efforts.

• 9- Develop its revenue sources through investment and strategic partnerships with the private sector, ensuring the performance of its tasks and achieving its objectives, according to legal procedures.

• 10- Monitor and collect the necessary data to support analyses and proactive detection of crises related to the food security system, and take the necessary actions to ensure the avoidance of those crises.

• 11- Monitor the targeted goods by strategic storage plans related to the food security system stored with the private sector, their rotation and usage mechanisms, and take necessary actions regarding what the authority observes in this regard.

• 12- Measure levels of food loss and waste at all stages of the value chain, develop the necessary policies, plans, and targets to reduce food loss and waste, including recycling, and develop the necessary programs for that in coordination with the relevant entities, according to its competencies.

• 13- Develop awareness programs to reduce food loss and waste, in coordination with the relevant entities, and monitor their implementation.

• 14- Coordinate with all entities concerned with the food security system to organize efforts related to the system.

• 15- Develop a comprehensive plan to build capacities related to the food security system, in coordination with the relevant entities.

• 16- Monitor compliance with laws, regulations, and policies related to the food security system, and take necessary actions in coordination with the relevant entities regarding any violations of those laws and regulations.

• 17- Electronic linkage with governmental and non-governmental entities to obtain information and data related to its competencies and perform its tasks.

• 18- Conclude agreements and memorandums of understanding related to food security fields with relevant entities inside and outside the Kingdom, according to the followed legal procedures, in coordination with the relevant entities.

• 19- Hold conferences, seminars, and workshops related to food security fields, and participate in them inside and outside the Kingdom, according to the followed legal procedures.

• 20- Support research and studies in food security fields, whether independently or in partnership with relevant entities.

• 21- Represent the Kingdom - regionally and internationally - within the limits of food security fields, according to legal procedures.

• 1- The Authority shall have a Board of Directors chaired by the Minister, with membership including:

  • A- A representative from the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.

  • B- A representative from the Ministry of Finance.

  • C- A representative from the Ministry of Commerce.

  • D- A representative from the Ministry of Interior.

  • E- A representative from the National Risks Council.

  • F- A representative from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.

  • G- The Chief Executive Officer.

  • H- Two members from the private sector, with expertise and specialization in the field of the Authority's work, appointed by order of the President of the Council of Ministers based on a nomination from the Minister.

• 2- The rank of the government representatives in the council shall not be less than (twelfth) or its equivalent.

• 3- The term of membership in the council is (three) years, renewable once.

• 4- The President shall select a Vice President from among the council members representing government entities, excluding the Chief Executive Officer.

• The Council is the authority that dominates the affairs of the Authority, manages and conducts its matters, and makes all necessary decisions to achieve its objectives within the limits of the provisions of the statute, and in particular, it has the following:

• 1- Approving proposals for determining and updating strategic goods, and adopting them according to the followed legal procedures.

• 2- Approving proposals for projects of laws, regulations, policies, and strategies related to food security, in preparation for submission.

• 3- Approving standards, procedures, regulations, and requirements for storing strategic goods, and the licenses issued by the Authority according to its jurisdiction.

• 4- Approving the general policies of the Authority, its strategies, plans, and programs.

• 5- Determining the financial compensation for the works and services it provides.

• 6- Approving the frameworks, rules, standards, regulations, and performance measurement indicators related to the Authority's work.

• 7- Approving the organizational structure and guide of the Authority.

• 8- Approving the financial and administrative regulations and other necessary regulations to conduct the work and affairs of the Authority, provided that the approval of administrative regulations is in agreement with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and the approval of financial regulations and provisions with financial impact in other regulations is in agreement with the Ministry of Finance.

• 9- Approving the draft budget of the Authority, its final account, the auditor's report, and the annual report, in preparation for submission according to the legal procedures.

• 10- Appointing an accredited external auditor (or more) and an internal financial controller.

• 11- Approving the conclusion of agreements, memorandums of understanding, and contracts, according to the followed legal procedures.

• 12- Approving the establishment of branches and offices of the Authority within the Kingdom.

• 13- Accepting donations, contributions, grants, bequests, and endowments offered to the Authority according to the provisions regulating that.

• 14- Reviewing periodic reports submitted on the progress of work in the Authority and making necessary decisions regarding them.

• 15- Approving the investment of the Authority's funds in a manner that achieves its objectives according to the provisions regulating that.

• The Council may form permanent or temporary committees from its members or others, entrusting them with tasks it deems appropriate, and determines in the decision to form each committee its chairman, members, and specializations, and it may seek the assistance of whomever it deems to perform the tasks assigned to it.

• The Council may delegate some of its powers - except for the powers mentioned in paragraphs (2) and (4) and (5) and (7) and (8) and (9) and (10) and (12) and (14) and (15) of this article - to its chairman or whomever it deems from the members of the Council or the employees of the Authority.

• 1- The Council meets periodically at least three times a year, and whenever necessary as determined by the President or his deputy, or if requested by at least one-third of its members.

• 2- The invitation to the meeting is issued by the President or his deputy in writing at least seven days before the meeting date, and the invitation must include the agenda.

• 3- The Council meetings are held at the headquarters of the Authority. It is permissible, by decision of the President, to hold the meeting at any other location within the Kingdom.

• 4- For the meeting to be valid, a majority of the members must be present, including the President or his deputy.

• Decisions are issued by a majority of the votes of those present, and in the event of a tie, the side with which the President of the meeting votes prevails.

• 5- No member may abstain from voting, nor delegate another to vote on his behalf in his absence.

• 6- The Council's deliberations and decisions are recorded in minutes signed by the President of the meeting and the members present.

• A member has the right to record his objection with reasons in the minutes of the Council meeting.

• 7- The President or his deputy may invite those he deems to have expertise and experience to attend Council meetings, provide information, opinions, and advice, without having the right to vote.

• 8- When necessary and as determined by the President, meetings may be held and voted on remotely using technological means. Decisions can be made by circulation among the members, and signed to indicate that all members have reviewed them. Decisions made in this manner are not considered valid unless circulated to all members, voted on by all members, and receive a majority of their votes.

• 9- The Council shall have a secretary from the Authority's staff chosen by the President based on the nomination of the Chief Executive Officer, who undertakes the secretariat of the Council, prepares for meetings, records minutes, deliberations, and decisions, and attends Council meetings without having the right to vote.

• The authority shall have a Chief Executive Officer appointed and dismissed by a decision of the Council, and he is responsible for managing the affairs of the authority, with his responsibilities focused within the limits stipulated by the statute and as decided by the Council, and he shall undertake the following functions:

• 1- Propose the general policies, strategies, plans, and programs of the authority, and submit them to the Council for approval, and follow up on their implementation after approval.

• 2- Propose the determination and updating of strategic goods, and submit them to the Council for approval, in preparation for their adoption according to statutory procedures.

• 3- Propose the frameworks, rules, standards, regulations, and performance measurement indicators related to the authority's work, and submit them to the Council for approval.

• 4- Propose the organizational structure and guide of the authority and its administrative, financial, and internal regulations, in preparation for submission to the Council.

• 5- Supervise the workflow in the authority through the regulations and decisions approved by the Council.

• 6- Supervise the preparation of the authority's annual report, budget project, and final account; in preparation for submission to the Council.

• 7- Supervise the preparation of reports on the implementation of the authority's plans and programs, in preparation for submission to the Council.

• 8- Submit periodic reports to the Council on the authority's work, achievements, and activities.

• 9- Appoint the employees in the authority and supervise them according to the authority's regulations.

• 10- Issue orders for the authority's expenditures, according to the authority's financial regulations.

• 11- Follow up on the implementation of the decisions issued by the Council.

• 12- Represent the authority before the judiciary, government entities, and other related institutions, and other entities within the Kingdom, and he may delegate others to do so.

• 13- Approve the necessary plans and programs for training and scholarships domestically and abroad, and follow up on their implementation.

• 14- Hold conferences, seminars, and meetings related to the authority's objectives, according to the statutory procedures followed.

• 15- Issue the necessary decisions to implement the provisions contained in the statute and regulations, according to the powers granted to him by the Council.

• 16- Contract with consulting offices, expert houses, and experts, within the scope of the authority's activity, and according to what is determined by the authority's regulations.

• 17- Any other function assigned to him by the Council.

• The Chief Executive Officer may delegate some of his functions to other members of the authority's staff.