Saudi Arabia: A comprehensive plan with the FAO to regulate fish markets and prevent fraud
In a strategic move aimed at enhancing food security and raising quality standards in local markets, the Makkah branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture organized a specialized workshop in close collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). This initiative is part of a broader effort underway in the Kingdom to regulate public markets, particularly fish markets, to ensure they are free from all forms of fraud and commercial manipulation.
Strategic context: Food security and Vision 2030
This event cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader context of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which places great emphasis on the fisheries sector as a promising economic driver. Through the National Program for the Development of the Livestock and Fisheries Sector, the Kingdom aims to achieve self-sufficiency and increase per capita consumption of healthy seafood products. To achieve these objectives, quality control and combating fraud become fundamental pillars for building consumer confidence in both locally produced and imported products, thereby enhancing the sustainability of this vital sector.
FAO standards: A global benchmark for monitoring
The workshop focused specifically on transferring international expertise to local inspectors, reviewing the FAO's international standards for determining fish freshness and quality. These standards are of paramount importance as they enable inspectors to accurately and scientifically distinguish between safe products and those that may appear fit but do not meet health requirements, thus increasing the efficiency of inspection processes and reducing subjective assessments of the products on display.
Mechanisms for detecting manipulation and protecting the consumer
Experts and specialists discussed the latest tricks and methods some violators might use in fish markets, such as altering expiration dates, mixing fresh fish with old ones, or manipulating species names to sell cheaper varieties at inflated prices. Inspection staff were trained on advanced mechanisms to detect these practices in the field, ensuring that safe and nutritious products reach Saudi tables and protecting consumers from the health and economic harm resulting from purchasing adulterated products.
Integrating efforts to promote aquaculture
The discussion addressed the importance of supporting the aquaculture sector in the Kingdom, reviewing the types of locally farmed fish and the accredited certificates that prove their quality and origin. This aspect is vital to supporting the national economy, as regulating markets contributes to creating a fair competitive environment for local producers who adhere to standards, and prevents the market from being flooded with substandard products that could damage the reputation of national produce.
At the conclusion of the event, Engineer Waleed Al-Daghis, Director General of the Ministry's branch in the Makkah region, affirmed that these efforts reflect the Ministry's ongoing commitment to implementing the highest food safety standards, noting that raising awareness among supervisory staff is the cornerstone of achieving operational efficiency and sustainable food security in the Kingdom.
