In a significant legal development, a specialized court in Dammam has sentenced an expatriate to two years in prison and imposed a fine of SR20,000. The expat was found guilty of manufacturing and possessing adulterated and unregistered veterinary preparations, as well as creating fraudulent packaging for these products.

The case unfolded when criminal investigation officers from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) conducted an inspection in Dammam. During their tour, they discovered the expatriate transporting veterinary preparations in a non-refrigerated vehicle at high temperatures, without proper thermal maps and temperature gauges.

Subsequent examinations by the SFDA revealed that the expat had unregistered veterinary pharmaceutical preparations in his possession. He was also using raw materials to manufacture veterinary products, including sprays for treating animal parasites and eye diseases. Unfortunately, these preparations did not meet the required technical regulations. Additionally, the expatriate had been purchasing empty containers in large quantities with the intent of filling them with these preparations, all without the necessary regulatory licenses.

The SFDA emphasized that any possession, manufacture, formulation, or marketing of veterinary preparations without the appropriate regulatory licenses is a direct violation of the Veterinary Products Law in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, as outlined in Article 27 of the law. This article specifically addresses fraudulent activities related to veterinary preparations and containers, making it clear that such actions are considered violations.