In June 2024, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) identified six pharmacies for failing to provide registered pharmaceutical preparations to the local market, report drug movements in the electronic tracking system, or inform the SFDA of expected shortages or interruptions in the supply of registered preparations.

The SFDA explained that one pharmacy was penalized for not providing its registered pharmaceutical products to the market, three pharmacies failed to report expected shortages or interruptions in supply, and two pharmacies did not maintain a sufficient stock of all their registered products for six months.

The violating establishments are subject to financial penalties as stipulated in the Law of Pharmaceutical and Herbal Establishments and its implementing regulations, amounting to approximately 45,000 riyals.

The SFDA emphasizes that the Law of Pharmaceutical and Herbal Establishments requires factories and warehouses dealing in pharmaceutical and herbal products to maintain a permanent stock sufficient for six months of all registered products. These establishments must also notify the SFDA of any expected shortages or interruptions in supply at least six months in advance, while providing solutions to compensate for the shortage. Under this law, penalties can reach up to five million riyals, and facilities may face temporary closure for up to 180 days or license cancellation.

The SFDA encourages the public to report any violations by establishments under its supervision by calling the unified number 19999 or through the “Tameni” application.