The SFDA announced that the duty of monitoring drugs will be
 transferred from the Ministry of health to the SFDA on
Wednesday, 15\7\1430 that equals 8\7\2009.

His Excellency Dr. Saleh Abdullah Bawazeer, Vice Executive
 President of Drug Affairs, clarified that by this process we apply
 the SFDA system which includes transferring all regulative,
 executive and monitoring duties, that are related to drugs, to the
 SFDA.

He also stated that several duties will be transferred to the drug
 sector of the SFDA starting from the mentioned date as:

1- Registering companies of human drugs and their products beside pricing drugs.

2- Registering companies of veterinary drugs and their products.

3- Registering companies of herbal and hygienic products and their companies.

4- The issuance of importation permits and authorization of drugs.

5- Issuing permit certifications to import and authorize anesthetic drugs.

6- Issuing permits to authorize precursor chemicals that belong to drugs industry.

7- Monitoring side-effects and safety of drugs before and after marketing.

8- Licensing drugs factories, scientific offices, consultant centers as well as analyzing and monitoring pharmaceutical products.

The Drug sector of the SFDA is receiving applications of permitting pharmaceutical products, issuing certifications of good practice of drugs industry and pharmaceutical products as well as urgent transactions starting from 18\7\1430H, 11\7\2009. The files of new drugs registration will be received from 24\8\1430H, 15\8\2009.

It worth mention that the reception of all visitors will be in the drug registration building in Riyadh city, Arrabee district, the north of King Abdulaziz Road in Loloa Centre, from 8 a.m. to 3. p.m, from Saturday to Wednesday.

For more information about drug sector visit the SFDA electronic website: