RIYADH, 10 April 2003 — The Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO) has issued 28 new standards relating to chemical, petroleum, food and agricultural sectors.
Dr. Khaled Y. Al-Khalaf, director-general of SASO, revealed this at a meeting of the board of directors, chaired by Minister of Commerce Dr. Osama Faqih, who is also SASO chairman.
Of the 28 standards, 16 belong to the chemical and petroleum sector, five to the food and agricultural sector, five to the metrological and two to the mechanical sector.
According to sources, the new standards in the food and agricultural sector address the concerns over entry of genetically modified animal food products as well as other consumer foodstuffs in violation of Saudi standards. These will also be areas of concern of the proposed Food and Drug Authority (FDA) to be constituted under the Ministry of Commerce.
Speaking of the FDA, Dr. Al-Khalaf said the setting up of the agency is to enforce the implementation of SASO standards. As Dr. Faqih explained, the FDA will have the responsibility of ensuring consumer protection in terms of food safety and prevention of medicines in violation of the Kingdom’s regulations.
In one month alone, quality control labs under the Ministry of Commerce rejected 8.72 million tons of foodstuffs and consumer goods shipped to Saudi Arabia. Some of the food consignments were rejected as they were unfit for human consumption.
