Saudi Arabia has amended its import licensing guide by adding fresh fruits and vegetables so that the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture will be the competent authority to issue these licenses, Asharq Al-Awsat learned. Minister of Commerce Majid al-Qasabi issued a ministerial decision to add fresh fruits and vegetables to the import licensing directory, specifying the requirements, notably that the importer, whether a Saudi or a foreign investor, must be authorized.
The new requirements on imported goods seek to protect humans and plants, using the international standards of the International Plant Protection Convention, which requires the monitoring of the market and collecting trade statistics. It was essential to organize and control vegetables and fruits imported to Saudi Arabia, which led to the development of procedures to keep pace with the changes.
Source: english.aawsat.com
