The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) has issued penalties against 20 veterinary facilities for violating the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Law concerning practicing the veterinary medicine profession with fines totaling SAR172,000.
The violations list included 12 violations for unlawful practice of veterinary medicine by unlicensed persons, 9 for veterinary facilities failed to obtain or renew the license, 4 for veterinary medical errors and for performing surgeries at unequipped places, 2 for unlicensed pet hotels, and 3 for misuse of medication. The fined facilities included veterinary drug stores, clinics and pet shops. The violations were reported during MEWA's inspection and control rounds in different regions of the Kingdom as follows; 17 in Riyadh and one each in Jouf, Asir, and Makkah.
Several cases of veterinary products were referred to the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) to apply the penalties set out in the Law of Veterinary Products in GCC.
MEWA stressed that it would not hesitate to impose the penalties prescribed by the said laws on any person convicted of breaching the laws, and that the beneficiaries who get veterinary services shall make sure facilities and veterinary practitioners have valid professional licenses to provide vet services. Licensed vet practitioners have passed special tests carried out by MEWA, which made sure that they were holding valid certificates to perform their duties within the Kingdom. Any veterinary practitioner fails to obtain or present the license will face penalties.
MEWA calls on the veterinary facilities to obtain the necessary licenses issued by MEWA, provide the best services to the beneficiaries and to take into account the veterinary professional ethics to avoid penalties, praising the cooperation of the beneficiaries in reporting violations.