Saudi Arabia to Launch Livestock Sales by Weight Next June

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture has announced that it will begin implementing new regulations for the sale of live livestock by weight starting on Thursday, Muharram 1, 1447 AH, which corresponds to June 26. These measures are part of the Kingdom's efforts to standardize livestock sales in public markets, aligning with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 for environmental and economic sustainability.

The ministry has developed a comprehensive set of terms and conditions to regulate livestock sales by weight, ensuring fair transactions between producers and consumers, and optimizing the economic potential of the livestock sector. This initiative promotes transparency and fairness in livestock transactions and enhances service quality and sustainability in public markets.

Outlined procedures include stipulations for both inside and outside pens sales. For sales within pens, it is mandatory to use approved scales to determine livestock weight accurately. Pen operators will need to supply these scales, maintain them, and ensure sanitary conditions. This includes keeping detailed records of each weighing, such as date, type of animal, and the weight recorded.

The ministry also requires the weighing process to be transparent, allowing sellers and buyers to witness it. Any objections can prompt a reweighing if needed. Fraudulent practices, such as tampering with scales, are strictly prohibited, and any non-compliant scales can be removed from service by a ministry inspector until they meet approved standards.

Outside pens, within market yards, regulations similarly require weighing with sanctioned scales and stipulate that these should be suitable for the market's livestock capacity. Authorized employees must oversee the weighing process to ensure precision and reliability.

The ministry emphasized the necessity of having livestock importers meet health and import permit requirements as part of the environmental sustainability program. This framework supports the newly formalized procedure of selling livestock by weight.