First group of royal guests performs Umrah

RIYADH: Saudi authorities carried out multiple drug-related arrests and seizures across the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

Border Guard land patrols in the Al-Raboah sector of the Asir region arrested five Ethiopians for smuggling 100 kg of qat.

In the Al-Dayer governorate of the Jazan region, authorities arrested three Yemenis and Ethiopians for smuggling 90 kg of qat.

In another seizure, land patrols thwarted the smuggling of 59,210 tablets subject to medical circulation regulations in the same governorate.

Authorities in Jazan also arrested a citizen for selling methamphetamine, also known as shabu.

Preliminary legal procedures were completed and all seized items were transferred to the relevant authorities.

Authorities have urged the public to report drug smuggling or selling by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other regions.

Reports can also be submitted, in strict confidence, to the General Directorate of Narcotics Control at 995 or via email at [email protected].

TOKYO: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority and the Food Safety Commission of Japan have agreed to collaborate on improving regulatory systems and safety mechanisms.

This was a major outcome of talks held on March 10 between the SFDA’s CEO Hisham S. Aljadhey and the FSCJ’s Chairperson Shigeki Yamamoto.

The meeting was attended by Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Japan Ghazi bin Faisal bin Zaqr and officials from both sides.

The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation mechanisms, the FSCJ’s operational model, global challenges facing the food sector, and best regulatory practices for risk assessment, the SFDA stated in a press release.

The participants also explored avenues for increased research and scientific collaboration between the two sides to improve regulatory systems and enhance food safety.

The SFDA officials are visiting Japan and are participating in the annual meeting of the International Medical Device Regulators Forum which began on Sunday and ends on March 14.

At the IMDRF meeting, the SFDA aims to strengthen international cooperation and exchange expertise with leading global regulatory bodies to ensure the safety of food, medicine, and medical devices in the Kingdom.

This aligns with the goals of the Health Sector Transformation Program, a key initiative of Saudi Vision 2030. This alignment is a promising sign for the future of the health and medical technology sectors in the Kingdom, the SFDA stated.

The SFDA delegation is also participating in the 27th Management Committee Meeting of the IMDRF in Tokyo which began on Monday and ends March 14.

The meeting was also attended by regulatory bodies from member states to discuss the latest advancements in medical device monitoring and regulation.

The SFDA underscored Saudi Arabia’s advanced regulatory capabilities and commitment to international best practices and emphasized the need to develop local industry and innovation in this sector.

The forum’s participants also discussed the IMDRF’s 2026-2030 strategy, capacity development programs for member states, and related challenges and solutions.

The SFDA became a member of the IMDRF in September 2023.