Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) released new packaging and labelling rules for fruits and vegetables sold in public markets. These measures intend to enhance food safety, ensure quality, and promote environmental sustainability. These measures are part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals to modernise farming and improve regulatory standards for consumer protection.
All packaged fruits and vegetables will now be required to display labels with specific information. The information must include the product name, net weight, packaging date, country of origin, and supplier or producer details, including the agricultural registration number, name, and logo. MEWA said these standards are intended to give consumers transparent, reliable information about the products they purchase.
The new regulations for food packaging outline strict packaging standards. The packaging materials should maintain food-grade quality, durability, and recyclability and allow adequate airflow to sustain freshness. Both cardboard and plastic are acceptable, with corrugated cardboard boxes needing lids of the same strength to be able to resist pressures in storage. For palletised shipments, cardboard boxes must be externally covered to prevent contamination during storage and transport. Inner surfaces may be lined, coated, or treated with moisture-resistant materials, as long as the treatment does not compromise the product quality.
MEWA has urged investors, producers, and vendors to adhere to these requirements. The ministry stated that by implementing these regulations for food packaging, it aims to protect public health, safeguard the environment, and enhance consumer confidence in the food supply chain. The new rules are part of Saudi Arabia’s wider attempts to bring the country’s domestic agricultural methods in line with global food safety levels and to promote sustainability programs. Producers and suppliers are urged to understand the rules so they know the requirements that can support Vision 2030 objectives.