The Palm Weevil Control Committee has been transferred to the Prevention Center: Details of the decision

The Cabinet issued a significant decision to transfer the headquarters of the Standing Committee for the Prevention and Control of the Red Palm Weevil from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture to the National Center for Plant Pest and Animal Disease Prevention and Control (Weqaya). This decision comes as part of organizational steps aimed at unifying efforts and enhancing performance efficiency in the Kingdom's agriculture and food security sector.

Details of the decision and the new structure

The first clause of the decision stipulates the restructuring of the Standing Committee to operate under the umbrella of the “Prevention” Center, chaired by the Center’s CEO, with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture retaining its membership on the Committee to ensure ongoing coordination. The decision unequivocally affirms that this administrative shift will not impose any additional financial burdens on the state’s general budget, nor will it require any increase in approved financial ceilings, reflecting the state’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiency without wasting resources.

In the context of the regulatory amendments, the decision included replacing the phrase “The National Center for Plant Pest and Animal Disease Prevention and Control” with the phrase “The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture” in the relevant texts, in addition to assigning the authority to set controls to the Center’s Board of Directors instead of the Minister, thus giving the Center greater independence and flexibility in making urgent technical decisions.

The importance of the palm sector and the challenge of the red palm weevil

This step is of paramount importance given the strategic role of the date palm in Saudi Arabia, one of the world's largest date producers, boasting over 33 million palm trees. The red palm weevil is one of the most dangerous transboundary pests threatening this vital sector, causing significant economic losses if not addressed using the latest scientific and technological practices.

The role of the “Prevention” Center in promoting biosecurity

The transfer of this responsibility to the “Prevention” Center reinforces its role as a specialized and independent body concerned with plant and animal health. This decision is expected to accelerate response times to outbreaks and enable more effective application of early detection, biological, and chemical control techniques. This approach also supports the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative by preserving vegetation cover and ensuring the sustainability of agricultural production, thereby enhancing national food security and protecting the Kingdom’s agricultural gains from biological threats.