The following terms wherever mentioned in this Law shall have the meanings indicated opposite them:

A- The Competent Authority: Ministry of Commerce, or Ministry of Health, or Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, or Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, or Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, or Saudi Food and Drug Authority, or any other governmental authorities determined by the Implementing Regulation, according to what the text or context requires.

B- The Center: Saudi Accreditation Center.

C- Goods: Commercial goods produced locally or imported, whether in the form of materials, devices, tools, or others.

D- Testing: Any analysis, calibration, or examination aimed at determining performance characteristics, efficiency, effectiveness, or conformity.

E- The Laboratory: Any place prepared for testing any of the goods.

• The competent minister may seek the assistance of licensed national private laboratories to test local and imported goods.

The license is granted to laboratories on the condition that the license applicant commits to providing the necessary staff of scientifically qualified specialists, as well as the equipment and devices required to operate the laboratory in accordance with the volume and nature of the work, as determined by the competent authority and the center.

The Implementing Regulation specifies the categories of laboratories and the conditions that must be met for each category, based on a recommendation from the center.

• The procedures and period for license issuance shall be determined by the Implementing Regulations.

The licensee is granted a period not exceeding one and a half years, starting from the date of obtaining the license, to complete the acquisition of the appropriation from the center. In the event that the period expires without obtaining the appropriation, the license shall be considered revoked.

A- The competent authority issues the License for the private laboratory after the payment of the License fee, which amounts to five thousand (5000) Riyals for the main laboratory, and two thousand five hundred (2500) Riyals for each branch.

B- The validity period of the License is five years, starting from the deadline mentioned in Article (Six) of this Law, and it is renewed upon a request from the concerned party submitted to the competent authority at least three months before the expiration date. The renewal takes effect from the expiration date of the License.

The competent authority issues a decision regarding the goods intended for examination by the private laboratory no later than (sixty) days from the assignment of the task to the private laboratory, and after the announcement in the official gazette, the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority is notified accordingly.

The laboratory must adhere to the following:
A - Limit the testing to the goods specified in the License for examination.
B - Maintain a level of performance and accuracy in accordance with the principles of the profession in examination with integrity, honesty, and impartiality, and also maintain the confidentiality of work and the safety of the equipment.
C - Retain records of test results for a period of no less than five years for reference when needed.
D - Display the License and the Certificate of Appropriation from the center in a visible location at the entrance of the laboratory, and make no modifications to them except after approval from the competent authority.
E - Commit to confidentiality when transferring samples and test results, and provide no information except to specialists.

• 1. The competent authority’s technicians shall collect and process samples according to approved standard specifications.

• 2.

  • a. The owner of imported goods may not dispose of said goods prior to final testing.

  • b. The owner of locally-produced goods may not dispose of said goods prior to their approval by the relevant agency.

• 3. The prepared sample shall be delivered to the private laboratory together with a document accurately describing the sample and indicating the required tests, in accordance with approved standard specifications.

• 4. The laboratory shall, within 15 days from the date of collecting the samples, return the results along with the remainder of the samples; if the samples are completely consumed, a proof thereof shall be presented to the providing party. The competent authority shall be notified of the testing results within a period not exceeding 25 days from the date of collecting such samples.

• 5. Goods shall be tested at the expense of their owner