The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is hosting an international Codex Alimentarius Workshop at its headquarters in Riyadh. Held from January 20 to 22, 2026, under the theme “one Codex: Together We Learn, Together We Lead,” the event brings together the world’s foremost experts in food safety and regulation.

As part of its Fourth Strategic Plan (2023–2027), the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is building a comprehensive regulatory ecosystem to advance food innovation and biotechnology in Saudi Arabia. The Authority focuses on developing legislation and control systems for emerging biotech products, supporting research and innovation, and promoting national initiatives that position the Kingdom at the forefront of the global transition towards modern and sustainable food production systems.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today in Berlin, establishing a comprehensive framework for joint cooperation in the fields of food safety and risk assessment. The signing took place on the sidelines of the official visit of H.E. Fahad Abdulrahman AlJalajel, Minister of Health and Chairman of the SFDA Board of Directors, to the Federal Republic of Germany. H.E. the Minister of Health led the SFDA delegation, and the MoU was signed by Dr.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has added a new international achievement to its pioneering record in the food sector. The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), during its 48th session held from November 10–14 at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, adopted the first international standard for fresh dates. This achievement occurred during the Kingdom’s co-chairing of the working group for international standard development.

The CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), H.E. Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey, launched the Electronic Integration of Medications Risk Minimization Measures with a number of collaborating hospitals. The launch took place on the sidelines of the Global Health Exhibition, held from October 27 to 30 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center in Malham, under the theme "Invest in Health."

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), in collaboration with the Cultural Houses’s Altaawun Public Library hosted an awareness workshop under the title “Towards a Healthy Society and a Better Life.” The event shed light on how balanced nutrition and protecting consumer rights play a vital role in building healthier lifestyles for everyone.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) shut down the production lines of five factories manufacturing meat and poultry products after detecting non-compliance. These non-compliances resulted in their products exceeding the microbial limits for Salmonella and E. coli, as outlined in the approved standard regulation (SFDA.FD/GSO 1016). These violations are considered serious due to the significant harm and direct risk they pose to consumer safety, as these bacteria are among the main causes of food poisoning. This constitutes a clear violation of food-related laws and regulations.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will host "Hack4safeFood," a regional technology and policy hackathon. The event will be held at the SFDA's headquarters in Riyadh from September 9-10, 2025, bringing together experts and innovative thinkers to develop solutions for critical food safety challenges in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region.