The Public Prosecution warns against the circulation of counterfeit pharmaceutical products

The Public Prosecution in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia affirmed its firm stance towards violations related to health security, stressing that the system of pharmaceutical and herbal establishments and products was put in place to be a protective shield to protect consumers and ensure the safety and security of medicines and herbal products traded in the markets.

The Public Prosecution clarified in its latest statement that selling, dispensing, or possessing any adulterated, spoiled, expired, or even unregistered pharmaceutical or herbal product is a crime and a clear violation of the provisions of the system, which warrants immediate criminal accountability in accordance with the regulations in force in the Kingdom.

Details of violations and legal accountability

These warnings come as part of intensive regulatory efforts to control the drug market, where violations punishable by the system include several forms, including:

• Trading in products that have not been tested and registered by the General Authority for Food and Drug.
• Offering or selling products that have expired, which turns them into materials that may be toxic or ineffective.
• Tampering with the ingredients of preparations (commercial fraud) whether by changing the chemical or herbal composition or falsifying the country of origin.

Organizational context and the importance of compliance

This warning is based on the “Pharmaceutical and Herbal Establishments and Products Law,” which represents the comprehensive legal framework for regulating this vital sector. The law primarily aims to regulate the import, manufacture, storage, and distribution of medicines and medicinal herbs. The Public Prosecution works alongside the relevant regulatory bodies to ensure the application of deterrent penalties, which may include imprisonment and substantial fines, in addition to closing down violating establishments and publicizing their violations in local newspapers at the expense of the offender.

Impact on public health and society

These measures are of paramount importance given the serious risks that counterfeit products pose to public health. Using adulterated or expired medications not only leads to treatment failure and worsens the patient's condition, but can also cause serious complications, including kidney failure, liver cirrhosis, or acute poisoning. Therefore, stricter controls contribute to strengthening national health security and protect the economy from the drain on resources spent on treating complications that could have been avoided.

This move comes within the framework of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which places “quality of life” and the safety of citizens and residents at the top of its priorities, stressing that any leniency in health standards is a red line that cannot be crossed.