Riyadh: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has completed its comprehensive, integrated operational plan for the 1447 AH Hajj season. This initiative aligns with the directives of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's leadership to prioritize the health and well-being of pilgrims, utilizing all available resources for a safe and seamless pilgrimage. These endeavors highlight the Kingdom's enduring commitment to serving and caring for the two holy mosques and their visitors.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the SFDA's operational plan emphasizes integrated monitoring and proactive pathways. The plan's main components include strengthening supply chain oversight, preparing field teams, increasing inspection visits of regulated facilities, and enhancing coordination with relevant government entities. This approach ensures rapid response and maximizes the efficiency of regulatory operations throughout the Hajj season.
The SFDA has confirmed that a fully integrated technical team will operate continuously across all regulatory pathways, including land, sea, and air entry points. This includes managing air freight for Hajj missions and specialized inspection points at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah. Oversight will also cover food and pharmaceutical establishments, as well as medical device facilities under the authority's supervision.
In a proactive campaign from Sha'ban to Shawwal, the SFDA conducted over 1,400 inspection visits to food and pharmaceutical factories, warehouses, and medical device facilities to ensure supply chain integrity before pilgrims' arrival. Furthermore, the SFDA hosted several awareness workshops in collaboration with the municipalities of Makkah and Madinah, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Public Health Authority. These sessions were aimed at factory and catering workers, as well as government inspectors, to ensure compliance with health requirements and the provision of safe meals.
The SFDA's participation in the Hajj season is part of a unified government ecosystem dedicated to providing the highest quality services to pilgrims, reinforcing the Kingdom's global leadership in crowd management and safety.
These efforts result from the SFDA's core responsibility to protect public health through the safety of food, drugs, and medical devices. This readiness is the outcome of early planning initiated immediately after the previous Hajj season. The SFDA's Hajj Steering Committee has held regular meetings to review performance and enhance operational readiness, ensuring the highest standards of quality and efficiency for the 1447 AH season.
