SFDA, represented by Executive Department for Imported Food, started work on supplying POEs and inspection Departments with highly equipped vehicles for transportation of food samples to ensure that they are not damaged, or their properties are not changed (i.e., sample temperature- especially in summer where temperature becomes very high and the efficiency of sample preservation is degraded), during transportation, in order to be analyzed in SFDA’s laboratories.

H.E The Chief Executive Officer of SFDA, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Almishal explained that the project for supplying especially equipped vehicles for transportation of food samples is fully completed and coordination is now being made with the respective imported food &inspection departments in order to meet their requirements of these vehicles for transportation of food samples to laboratory in the best possible environment and in the specified temperatures according to  approved specifications.

Almishal added that the project came to address the apparent needs of inspection departments and the difficulties encountered by them in transportation process, especially with transportation of samples that need low temperatures, (e.g.-10 degrees Celsius in some cases), thus resulting in  delays of Clearance of Imported food shipments received at POE’s  and urging SFDA to resolve such obstacles and minimize the clearance cycle, assurance of food safety and avoiding accumulation of food shipments. This will contribute to secure entry and smooth movement of food and avoidance of food damages caused by its long stay in POEs under unfavorable storage conditions, especially that the Kingdom imports over 60% of its Food.

Al Mishal said that the Kingdom is witnessing a boom in control of food, drug and medical devices & products field, and that SFDA allocated 750 million riyals a year to control imported food. He emphasized the significant role played by SFDA in the provision of services and quality assurance of imported food until it reaches the hands of the consumer with the highest possible quality. However, SFDA has opened an e-mail account to simplify and ease addition of  importers’ information  and goods data; which helps to accomplish large number of applications, and saves a lot of time and effort to all parties, whether these are traders or government agencies operating at the POEs.