المملكة: Urgent – A fine of 15 million riyals…the most prominent penalties in the amendments to the agricultural system

Approved modifications to Agriculture Law Deterrent penalties for violators of the provisions of the law include fines of up to fifteen million riyals, and inspectors are given broad powers to detect violations and make immediate reservations, with the possibility of entrusting the inspection to specialized companies.

The updated penalties that I presented via the polling platform included partial or complete suspension of the license for a period not exceeding one year, cancellation of the license completely, in addition to closing the violating establishment for a period of up to a month.

Imposing sanctions

The amendments obligated the executive authorities not to impose penalties during the regular objection period, with the exception of violations related to fraud and deception, or those that result in serious harm to humans, animals, plants, or Public health and environment or public facility.

In a step aimed at tightening oversight, the system authorized inspectors, who are designated by a ministerial decision, to stop any container or means of transport suspected of violating it, and to enter Agriculturaland veterinary facilities to be inspected, access to their records, and to withdraw samples from them according to official seizure reports.

Inspection missions

The system also obliges establishment officials and workers to provide all facilities and documents to inspectors who must present their job cards when carrying out their inspection duties.

Article Twenty-Four of the amended system grants inspectors the right to immediately seize vehicles and tools used in violations at the expense of the violator, provided that the incident is presented to the competent court within a period not exceeding seven days to confirm or cancel the reservation.

Immediate closure

The amendments strictly stipulate the immediate closure of any veterinary facility operating without a valid license, and the seizure of the wealth of the agricultural sector in violation to deal with it in accordance with the regulations.

The amendments did not ignore the aspect of administrative progression, as they introduced a warning penalty for non-serious violations to ensure flexibility of application.

It authorized the competent minister to issue a decision to assign some tasks of inspecting and controlling violations of an administrative nature to specialized companies in accordance with precise controls and standards, in addition to issuing classification tables for violations that take into account the nature of each violation, its seriousness, and the aggravating and mitigating circumstances.

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