Decree

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Issued by …

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Published in Umm Al-Qura 5062 issued on 27 December 2024.

Arabic

Issued by Royal Decree D/79 Approving the Measurement and Calibration Law

The following words and phrases—wherever they appear in this law—have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context requires otherwise:

Law: The Measurement and Calibration Law.

Organization: The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization.

Board: The board of directors of the organization.

Governor: The governor of the organization.

Regulation: The executive regulation of the law.

Center: The National Center for Measurement and Calibration.

Technical documents: The documents issued by the council or whoever it authorizes, clarifying the characteristics of measurement instruments, the operations associated with them and the methods of their manufacture, including provisions that include, in particular, the terms, definitions, requirements, specifications, conditions and recommendations regulating metrology and the costs that must be adhered to.

Measurement: A set of operations performed to find the value of a quantity.

Calibration: A set of operations and procedures that determine the value of a measure in specific circumstances, and the goal of which is to determine its true value by obtaining the most accurate value of the measure that can approach the true value with the available tools and capabilities, coupled with uncertainty to give the measurement result.

Calibration certificate: A document recording the results of a calibration.

International System of Units (SI Units): A system of measuring quantities, their names, and symbols, including a set of prefixes, their names, and symbols, along with rules for their use, adopted by the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM).

Metrology: Metrology, including scientific, industrial and legal metrology.

Scientific metrology: The part of metrology relating to units of measurement and primary standards, and the laboratories concerned with their embodiment, preservation and development.

Industrial metrology: The part of metrology concerned with metrological activities in the field of industrial and technical production.

Legal metrology: The part of metrology that deals with units of measurement, measurement instruments, and their technical and legal requirements.

Metrological supervision: Activities carried out to ensure that the manufacture, import, sale, display, maintenance, installation, and use of measurement instruments meet, and that pre-packaged products comply with, the mandatory requirements stipulated in the law, regulations, and technical documents.

Metrological attribution: A property of a measurement result such that the result can be linked to a reference through a documented and continuous series of calibrations and comparisons, each of which contributes to the uncertainty of the measurement.

Uncertainty: One of the main metrological concepts for those working in the field of measurement and calibration, it is an integer that accompanies the true value of the measurement, so that it gives a range (area) on both sides of this value.

National standards: Standards issued by a decision by the organization as a basis for fixing the value of all other standards for a specific quantity in a country, and are based on or equivalent to international standards.

International standards: Internationally recognized standards that are used internationally as a basis for establishing the value of all other standards in relation to the International System of Units (SI Units).

Benchmarks: Standards that meet the highest levels of metrological quality in a given location.

User: Every establishment that owns or uses measurement instruments.

Manufacturer: Every establishment that manufactures a pre-packaged product or measurement instrument, or assigns its manufacture to another establishment, and then markets it under its own name or trademark.

Authorized representative: Every establishment established in the Kingdom with an authorization from a manufacturer residing outside the Kingdom to act on its behalf in accordance with the applicable legal procedures.

Importer: Every establishment that imports a pre-packaged product or measurement instrument from outside the Kingdom.

Distributor: Every establishment in the supply chain—other than the manufacturer and importer—offering pre-packaged products or measurement tools to the market.

Economic operator: The manufacturer, authorized representative, importer, and distributor.

Licensees: An establishment licensed by the organization for metrological supervision activities.

Appointed parties: Public or private entities entrusted with the task of preserving and developing some national standards.

Pre-packaged products: A product contained in a box or packaged in any way, such that it cannot be changed or tangibly modified without opening it, and the nominal or actual quantity of the product is specified on the information card before it is offered for sale.

Measurement tool: A device used to make quantitative measurements, either alone or in conjunction with other equipment.

Article 2

The law aims to achieve the following:

1․ Strengthening the institutional framework for measurement in the Kingdom.

2․ Imposing the use of measurement units compatible with the International System of Units (SI).

3․ Ensuring the metrological attribution of all measurement instruments in the Kingdom to the International System of Units (SI Units).

4․ Directing and supporting research and development activities in the field of metrology.

5․ Facilitating the trade exchange of goods between the Kingdom and the countries of the world with regard to measurement and calibration.

Article 3

The provisions of this law apply to all measurement and calibration operations carried out in the Kingdom, including those related to pre-packaged products that are sold, manufactured, used or displayed regardless of their origin, whether local or imported.

Article 4

It is not permitted for any entity to practice any metrological supervision activities except after obtaining a license from the organization.

Article 5

The economic operator and the user shall ensure that the measurement instrument or pre-packaged products in the Kingdom are in compliance with the mandatory requirements stipulated in the law, regulations and technical documents.

Article 6

To achieve metrological attribution for the calibration of measurement instruments, measurement and calibration laboratories shall meet the following requirements:

1․ The national standards must obtain a calibration certificate or an international comparison report issued by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM), or by any calibration center (institute) recognized by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM), to confirm the attribution to international standards.

2․ The calibration certificate or international comparison report for national standards kept by the center or the designated authorities must be valid, include the uncertainty in the values, and be based on the International System of Units (SI Units).

3․ That the reference standards of the center and the designated authorities be calibrated within their laboratories, and that the uncertainty in the values accompanies them to confirm the attribution to the national standards.

4․ Calibration certificates for reference standards of measurement and calibration laboratories must include uncertainty in values, and must be based on national standards.

5․ The measurement instrument must be calibrated in the measurement and calibration laboratories, and the calibration certificates must include the uncertainty in the values, and be based on national standards.

6․ Obtaining accreditation from the Saudi Accreditation Center, to confirm its compliance with national standards.

Article 7

1․ The International System of Units (SI Units) is the basis for the units of measurement referred to in all measurements in the Kingdom. These units are based on the following base units:

(a) Unit of length: Meter.

(b) Unit of mass: Kilogram.

(c) Unit of time: Second.

(d) Unit of temperature: Kelvin.

(e) Unit of electric current intensity: Ampere.

(f) Unit of the amount of substance: Mole.

(g) Unit of luminous intensity: Candela.

2․ The council may—based on the recommendation of a technical committee formed for this purpose—approve the request of public or private entities to apply units of measurement other than the units stipulated in paragraph 1 of this article, in accordance with the terms and controls specified in the regulations and technical documents.

Article 8

Metrological supervision activities include:

1․ Model approval.

2․ Preliminary verification.

3․ Periodic verification.

4․ Post maintenance verification.

5․ Self-verification.

6․ Auditing and supervising the work of licensees.

7․ Auditing and supervising the user and the economic operator.

Article 9

The authority may assign metrological supervision activities or part of them to licensees.

Article 10

Inspectors—appointed by the board—jointly or individually, shall police and record violations of the provisions of the law, regulations, and technical documents. For that purpose, they have the following:

1․ Entering and inspecting—at any time—the facilities of licensees, the economic operator, the user, and any related warehouses, storage areas, means of transportation, and others.

2․ Issuing reports to record violations.

3․ Hearing the statements of the violator, policing them, and reporting them in a report.

4․ Closing the place where the violation occurred—in necessary cases that require this based as specified in the regulations—until the policing procedures are completed, provided that the closure period does not exceed five working days in all cases.

5․ Seizing the measuring instrument and pre-packaged products that violate—or are suspected of violating—the provisions of the law, regulation, or technical documents, and, the documents related to it.

6․ Taking samples of measuring instruments and pre-packaged products that violate—or are suspected of violating—the provisions of the law, regulations, and technical documents.

7․ Reviewing all the documents, records, files, complaints, invoices, and other documents related to the violation, and obtaining copies of them. It is not permitted—under any circumstances—to withhold any of these documents from them.

Article 11

The inspector shall display his official card when performing inspection and policing work, and the licensees, the economic operator, and the user shall enable him to perform his work and not obstruct him.

Article 12

Financial rewards must be granted by a decision by the board, based on a proposal from the governor to the inspectors stipulated in article 10 of the law.

Article 13

1․ The inspector shall maintain the confidentiality of the information he obtains by virtue of his work.

2․ Maintaining the confidentiality of information does not prevent the competent authorities from disclosing the information necessary to ensure effective market monitoring or to prevent a risk that threatens the safety of the consumer, property, and the environment.

Article 14

1․ Without prejudice to any more severe punishment stipulated by another law, anyone who violates the provisions of the law, regulations, or technical documents must be punished with one (or more) of the following penalties:

(a) Warning.

(b) A fine not exceeding ten million Riyals.

(c) Closing the facility for a period not exceeding one year.

(d) Suspension of the license for a period not exceeding one year.

(h) Cancelation of the license.

2․ The committee—stipulated in article 15 of the law—may include in the punishment decision a provision to publish a summary of it at the expense of the violator in a local newspaper issued in his place of residence, and if there is no newspaper in his place of residence, then in the area closest to him, or to publish it in any other appropriate means, according to the type of violation committed, its seriousness and its impact, provided that it is published after the decision has been fortified by the expiry of the period for filing a complaint against it or by its confirmation by the competent court.

3․ The governor—or his representative—shall impose a punishment not exceeding ten thousand Riyals on anyone who violates the provisions of the law, regulations, or technical documents, based on the recommendation of the inspector.

4․ The board shall issue a schedule that includes the following:

(a) Classification of violations and the corresponding punishment stipulated in paragraph 1 of this article, their amount, and duration, taking into account the progression of the punishment.

(b) Classification of violations and the corresponding punishment stipulated in paragraph 3 of this article, their amount, and duration, taking into account the progression of the punishment.

It is permitted to double the punishment imposed on the violator in accordance with paragraph 1(b) and (c) of this article, if the violation is repeated, provided it does not exceed its maximum limit. The violation is considered repeated if it occurs within one year from the date of committing the previous violation.

Article 15

1․ One or more committees must be formed—by a decision by the board—of five members, including at least three legal advisors, one of whom must be its chairman.

2․ The committee shall undertake the following:

(a) Imposing corrective measures against the licensees, the economic operator, and the user as specified in the regulation and technical documents.

(b) Applying the punishments stipulated in article 14(1) of the law.

(c) The committee shall issue its decisions in accordance with the rules and procedures specified in the regulation. The person against whom the decision is issued may appeal it before the Administrative Court within sixty days from the date of his knowledge of the decision.

4․ The remuneration of the committee members must be determined by a decision of the board.

Article 16

The board shall issue the regulation and technical documents within ninety days from the date of publication of the law in the official gazette, and it becomes effective from the date of its entry into force.

Article 17

The law replaces the Measurement and Calibration Law issued by Royal Decree D/51 dated 13 Dhu Al-Qa’dah 1434 [18 September 2013], and repeals all provisions conflicting with it.

Article 18

The law becomes effective after ninety days from the date of its publication in the official gazette.

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Published in Umm Al-Qura 5048 issued on 20 September 2024.