Saudi Arabia has toughened penalties against fraud of pharmaceutical and herbal products, with a hefty fine and a maximum 10 years in prison, according to newspaper Al Madina.

Supreme directives have been issued to apply tough penalties against anyone involved in adulterating pharmaceutical or herbal preparations or selling fake or rotten products, the report said. The offences are punishable by a fine of up to 10 million Saudi riyals and 10 years in prison.

The toughened penalties aim at deterring fraud attempts, or marketing rotten products of pharmaceutical and herbal preparations.

According to the new system, the pharmaceutical preparations are defined as any new product that is pharmacologically manufactured and contains one or more substances used explicitly or not in treating humans or preventing diseases.

The violations include bringing into the kingdom such products that have not been registered, or found fake or expired.

Penalties begin with a fine of SR5 million, a six-month closure of the violating pharmacy and licence revocation.

Gross violations carry 10 years in prison or a fine of SR10 million or both penalties.