The CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), H.E. Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey, met with the Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), Dr. Allan Azegele, in a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the CAC 49th session, taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 6–10.

The meeting was attended by the Vice-Chairpersons of the Codex Alimentarius Commission: Khaled Al-Zahrani (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Betul Fazgeçer (Republic of Türkiye), and Jing Tian (People’s Republic of China).

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), has been re-elected as Vice-Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission during its 49th session held in Geneva, Switzerland. This re-election extends Saudi Arabia’s leadership role within the Codex through the conclusion of its 50th regular session scheduled for 2027.

Saudi Arabia's New International Achievement for Traditional Foods: Codex Alimentarius Commission Adopts Maamoul Standard

The Codex Alimentarius Commission, during its 49th session in Geneva, has officially adopted a new food standard for “Maamoul” (a traditional date-filled cookie). The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), chaired the development of this standard within the Codex Coordinating Committee for the Near East (CCNE).

The CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), H.E. Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey, is leading Saudi Arabia’s delegation at the 49th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), held in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 6 to 10, 2026. The session is attended by Codex leadership, representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as delegates from member and observer states.

Therapies based on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology are advancing rapidly, positioning them among the world's most breakthrough medical technologies. This technology has already demonstrated a transformative ability to accelerate the development of innovative vaccines and treatments for infectious diseases, cancer, and rare genetic disorders.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has granted marketing authorization for an AI-powered digital medical application capable of measuring heart rate, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure via smartphone cameras.

With this approval, the SFDA becomes the first regulatory authority globally to grant marketing authorization for this application. The decision came after a comprehensive evaluation that reviewed technical documentation and clinical evidence to verify the application's safety and performance.

The CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), H.E. Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey, recently conducted official visits to several pharmaceutical facilities and research centers in the United States. The visits aimed to review the latest advancements in the global pharmaceutical industry and leverage international expertise to advance scientific research and innovation in the pharmaceutical field.

The CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey, conducted a series of site visits to specialized medical and research centers in the United States. The visits aimed to leverage global expertise in the latest technologies and developments within advanced therapies and biotechnology. They took place on the sidelines of Dr. Aljadhey’s participation in the Drug Information Association (DIA) Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has officially announced the opening of submissions for its sixth annual Regulatory Research Day 2026. The event, scheduled to take place this November at the SFDA headquarters in Riyadh, will feature scientific contributions from researchers.

The SFDA stated that the submission window for scientific posters is open from June 15 to September 17, 2026. The Authority invites scientists and researchers to submit their work in accordance with the event's approved themes.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has activated the Regulatory AI System for Incoming Drugs (RASID) service to support regulatory operations at entry points for arriving pilgrims during the Hajj season. It aims to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of smart verification processes for controlled medications, significantly improving the overall pilgrim experience while optimizing border regulatory operations.