The following words and phrases – wherever they appear in this Law – shall have the meanings indicated next to them unless the context requires otherwise:
Chemicals: Any chemical substance in its gaseous, liquid, or solid state, including chemical precursors that are part of the composition of narcotics and psychotropic substances.
Management of Chemical Substances: Any dealings with chemical substances, including their production, manufacturing, importation, exportation, re-exportation, trading, transportation, storage, processing, disposal, and elimination.
Competent Authority: The authority authorized – in accordance with the provisions of this Law – to issue permits for the importation, exportation, re-exportation, and clearance of chemical substances.
Chemical Waste: Chemical residues that must be disposed of, such as materials resulting from industrial and research processes.
Accumulated Chemicals: Chemical substances that have been stored for a long time by their importers or handlers as determined by the Regulation.
Hazardous Chemicals: Chemical substances characterized by their toxicity or explosiveness, or having other properties that may pose a risk to human or animal health or the environment.
Regulation: The implementing regulation of this Law.

It is not permissible to import, export, or re-export chemical materials except after obtaining permission for that from the competent authority in accordance with Article (3) of the law. They shall not be cleared from customs except after presenting the clearance permission. The regulation specifies the procedures for requesting the issuance of these two permissions, the specific forms for them, their conditions, duration, and how to renew and cancel them.

• 1. Without prejudice to the jurisdictions of other authorities stipulated in the regulations, the following entities are competent to issue permits for the import, export, re-export, and clearance of chemical materials, as specified for each of them:

  • A- Ministry of Interior and the Supreme Industrial Security Authority: Chemical materials used in the composition of explosives.

  • B- Ministry of Education: Chemical materials related to educational and research institutions.

  • C- Saudi Food and Drug Authority: Chemical precursors used in the composition of narcotics and psychotropic substances, other chemical materials involved in the preparation or composition of food and drugs, pesticides related to public health, cosmetic products, medical products, and chemical materials required by the health sector, including non-radioactive reagents.

  • D- Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (the competent environmental center):

    • 1- Chemical materials used in the preparation or composition of agricultural pesticides, soil conditioners, and fertilizers, and chemical materials required by agricultural research centers.
    • 2- Chemical materials used in water treatment and sewage, related stations, and chemical materials required by water and sewage laboratories and research centers.
    • 3- Restricted chemical materials pursuant to the provisions of international agreements and treaties ratified by the Kingdom in the environmental field, provided this does not conflict with the jurisdictions of other concerned authorities.

  • E- Ministry of Energy: Chemical materials related to energy, including those used by entities operating in the petroleum, electricity, gas, and renewable energy sectors, and chemical materials related to their research and development.

  • F- Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources: Chemical materials related to factories and mining, including chemical materials related to their research and development.

  • G- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology: Chemical materials related to its research and development.

  • It is permissible – by order of the Council of Ministers – to add other entities concerning their specific chemical materials or those they require, provided this does not conflict with the jurisdictions of other authorities.

• 2- The entities referred to in paragraph (1) of this article shall not issue permits for the import, export, re-export, or clearance of chemical materials used in the composition of explosives and narcotics except after coordination with the Ministry of Interior and the Supreme Industrial Security Authority, in accordance with what is specified in the regulation.

The relevant authorities shall provide the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (the specialized environmental center) with a copy of the permit for clearance issued for chemical materials upon its issuance.

• The Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization shall set standard specifications for the containers of chemical substances in terms of type, size, color as well as the labels and instructions attached thereto.

• The Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services and the General Authority of Civil Aviation, each within its jurisdiction, shall issue permits for the transport of chemical substances in accordance with the terms and specifications determined in the Regulations.

Subject to the judgment stated in Article (3) of this law, the management of chemical materials is not permitted except after obtaining a license for that from the competent authority as per the regulations. The regulation specifies the competent authorities, the procedures for obtaining the license, and its conditions.

• The Ministry of Interior and the Supreme Authority for Industrial Security shall undertake the following tasks:

  • 1. Inventory and monitor all imported chemical materials that are components of explosives, and the entities importing them.
  • 2. Escort trucks loaded with hazardous chemical materials - as specified by the regulation - to ensure their safety on the roads.
  • 3. Establish protective and preventive measures against the dangers of chemical materials, and follow up on their implementation.
  • 4. Create teams for intervention in chemical accidents, and work on preparing these teams with the necessary training and equipment to perform their duties.

The Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority is responsible for the following tasks:
1. Completing the necessary customs procedures for any shipment of chemical materials upon the submission of the release permit.
2. Coordinating with the relevant authorities to address any issues that hinder or delay the release of imported chemical materials.
3. Informing the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (the relevant environmental center) - without delay - about the chemical materials left in its possession, and the regulation specifies the necessary procedures for that.