Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has slapped a fine of SR1 million on two food establishments for violation of regulations in the import of fish products. A fine of SR500,000 was slapped on each food establishment for violating SFDA’s decision to prohibit the import of specific types of fish from certain countries.

At the King Fahd Causeway, the SFDA found an attempt by a food establishment to tamper with data on fish product cards and violate the Gulf standard specifications GSO 9/2013.

According to the specifications, no additional stickers should be allowed with regard to the production date and expiry date, and that there should not be more than one date of production and expiry on a single package. Moreover, neither date should be crossed out, altered, or tampered with.

The authority received information about the violation of anther food establishment in Riyadh. SFDA, in cooperation with the security patrols in the capital, followed the case and found that the firm exploited customs facilities to import banned fish in a transit truck.

It was detected that the establishment used illegal workers to remove customs seals, and repack the fish in a warehouse. Inspection teams raided the warehouse and destroyed the fish, the Saudi Press Agency reported.