Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture will start implementing a new mechanism for importing vegetables and fruits, effective from August 9. Through this mechanism, shipment of fruits and vegetables from epidemic-hit countries will be stopped. The mechanism intends to support sustainability of local production, quality control, protection of plant wealth, and a continuance of the flow of fresh vegetables and fruits to enhance food security.
According to the ministry, the new regulations included determining the types and quantities of fruits and vegetables that are placed in the import license, according to the needs of the local market. They will be regulating support services and transportation, and requirements for issuing licenses and import permits.
The ministry noted that the mechanism relied on the agricultural quarantine system of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states which stipulated that no shipment is allowed to enter the country except under an import license and a phytosanitary certificate issued by the competent authorities in the exporting country.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
