Environment: 6,000 inspection tours and 1,475 violations recorded before Ramadan
As part of its intensive preparations to welcome the holy month of Ramadan for the year 1447 AH, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture implemented a large-scale proactive monitoring campaign that included various regions of the Kingdom, with the aim of ensuring food safety and the readiness of markets and slaughterhouses to meet the increased demand during the holy month.
The importance of timing and strategic context
This campaign comes at a crucial time, preceding the annual peak consumer season, when Saudi markets experience a surge in commercial activity and high demand for food, agricultural products, and meat. These proactive measures are part of the Ministry's annual strategy to enhance food security and ensure markets are free from harmful practices that could affect consumer health or price stability, in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals of improving quality of life and raising environmental and food safety standards.
Campaign details and regulatory figures
The Ministry launched its campaign under the slogan "Markets and Slaughterhouses Readiness for Ramadan 1447 AH," deploying its field teams comprised of 428 judicial officers. The inspection teams conducted 6,281 intensive inspection tours, resulting in the detection of 1,475 various violations, which were dealt with immediately in accordance with regulations and bylaws to enforce order in the markets.
Regarding the safety of the exhibits, the teams destroyed huge quantities of food unfit for human consumption, including more than 19.9 tons of vegetables, fruits and dates, in addition to 1.6 tons of meat and poultry, and 727 kilograms of spoiled fish, reflecting the Ministry’s determination to prevent any spoiled products from reaching the Ramadan table.
Strict procedures in slaughterhouses and laboratories
The slaughterhouse sector witnessed significant activity, with 111,322 livestock carcasses processed at supervised facilities. Veterinary staff applied rigorous inspection standards, resulting in the complete condemnation of 970 carcasses deemed unfit for consumption and the partial condemnation of 10,041 others, ensuring the delivery of safe and wholesome meat to consumers. Simultaneously, the Ministry strengthened its laboratory monitoring by testing 663 samples of agricultural products to ensure they were free of pesticide residues. The results showed that 658 samples met the required standards, a positive indicator of the quality of local produce.
Social responsibility and waste reduction
The campaign was not limited to oversight; it also included a significant humanitarian and environmental dimension through partnerships with 23 food preservation associations. These efforts successfully rescued and distributed 16,189 kilograms of food fit for consumption, reinforcing the principles of social solidarity and contributing to reducing food waste, a key pillar of environmental sustainability in the Kingdom.
