Saudi Arabia Makes Targeted Changes to SFDA Board Composition

4 min 1 sec February 7, 2026 (Edited)

Written by

Mohammed AlSultan

M.AlSultan@tamimi.com View LinkedIn Profile

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) plays a central role in regulating food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics and related products in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The SFDA’s mandate and governance framework are set out in the Law of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, issued by Royal Decree No. M/6 dated 25/01/1428H (corresponding to 13 February 2007) (the SFDA Law).

On 01/11/1446H (corresponding to 29 April 2025), the SFDA Law was amended. The amendment is limited in scope and relates solely to Article 6 of the SFDA Law, which governs the composition of the SFDA’s Board of Directors. While the amendment does not introduce substantive changes to the SFDA’s regulatory powers or functions, it is significant from a governance and institutional coordination perspective.

This update outlines the SFDA Law’s framework, summarises the amendments to Article 6, and considers its practical implications for healthcare and life sciences stakeholders.

Overview of the SFDA Law

The SFDA Law establishes the SFDA as an independent regulatory authority with legal personality and financial and administrative autonomy, organisationally linked to the prime minister (Article 2). The SFDA’s headquarters are located in the Kingdom, with authority to establish branches or offices as required (Article 3).

The SFDA Law sets out the Authority’s overarching purpose, namely to ensure the safety of food, drugs, medical devices, and products affecting public health (Article 4). To achieve this objective, the SFDA is granted broad regulatory and supervisory powers, including issuing specifications and standards, registering regulated products, licensing relevant activities, conducting inspections, and taking enforcement actions against non-compliant products (Article 5).

The SFDA Law comprises 25 articles and provides a comprehensive framework addressing governance, powers, financial resources, executive management, and the issuance of implementing regulations. With the exception of Article 6, all provisions of the SFDA Law remain unchanged following the 2025 amendment.

Governance under the SFDA Law

Governance under the SFDA Law is centred on the Board of Directors, which is the Authority’s highest decision-making body. The Board is responsible for supervising the SFDA’s affairs, approving its policies, adopting its regulations and standards, endorsing its plans and programmes, and approving its annual budget (Article 7).

The Board’s composition and structure are therefore critical to how the SFDA exercises its regulatory mandate in practice. Article 6 of the SFDA Law specifies the membership of the Board and reflects the legislature’s intent to ensure cross-governmental representation and technical expertise in food, drug, and health-related matters.

The 2025 amendment to Article 6

The amendment enacted on 01/11/1446H is confined exclusively to Article 6 of the SFDA Law. The amendment introduces a change to the composition of the SFDA’s Board of Directors by adding a representative of the Saudi Public Health Authority (Weqaya) to the Board.

As amended, Article 6 provides that the Board of Directors includes senior representatives from relevant government ministries, the SFDA’s chief executive officer, representatives of standards authorities, private sector representatives, and specialists in food and drug matters, together with a representative from the Public Health Authority.

Importantly, the amendment does not alter the number of articles in the SFDA Law, nor does it revise the Authority’s statutory functions, enforcement powers, or regulatory remit as set out in Articles 4 and 5. The change is narrowly tailored and limited to the SFDA’s Board composition.

Significance of the amendment

Although limited to a single provision, the amendment to Article 6 has notable governance implications. By formally including the Public Health Authority in the SFDA’s Board structure, the amendment enhances institutional coordination between product regulation and public health policy.

The SFDA operates at the intersection of product safety, preventive health measures and regulatory oversight. Public health considerations increasingly influence regulatory decision making in areas such as food safety, pharmacovigilance, risk management, and emergency response. The amendment to Article 6 reflects this evolving regulatory environment by strengthening the linkage between the SFDA’s technical regulatory functions and national public health priorities.

From a governance perspective, the amendment reinforces a multi-stakeholder approach within the Board, ensuring that public health expertise is integrated into strategic oversight and policy formulation at the highest level of the Authority.

Practical implications for stakeholders

For companies operating in the food, pharmaceutical, and medical devices sectors, the amendment does not impose new compliance obligations or change existing licensing or registration requirements under the SFDA Law. All substantive regulatory powers of the SFDA continue to derive from Articles 4 and 5, which remain unchanged.

However, stakeholders should be aware that governance adjustments at Board level may influence regulatory priorities, coordination mechanisms, and policy direction over time. Enhanced representation of public health authorities on the Board may contribute to increased emphasis on preventive health, risk-based regulation, and cross-sector collaboration in future regulatory initiatives.

Investors and market participants may also view the amendment as part of a broader trend toward strengthening institutional governance and alignment across Saudi Arabia’s health regulatory landscape, consistent with ongoing public sector reforms.