SFDA warns of surprise inspection tours
The Saudi Gazette
04 September 2010


JEDDAH - The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) would soon approve a new plan aiming at preventing the spread of unlicensed or counterfeit medicines and medical preparations, an official at the authority said here on Thursday.

The official said according to the plan, surprise inspection tours would be carried out on pharmacies and medicine warehouses in case the authority receives reports on medicines having caused harm to consumers.

The official pointed out that the authority is laying down a description of the side effects of medicines in order to publish and circulate them.

The new plan, according to the official, also focuses on pursuing unofficial activities in the medicines sector by carrying out preemptive campaigns against sales outlets and creating the mechanisms for withdrawing such preparations from the markets.

It also stipulates fining distributors and importers in case they are proven to have dealt in unlicensed medicines, the official said.


By Abdul Rahman Al-Khatarish

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