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On February 6, 2026, the Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA) notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a major update to its technical regulations governing the fortification of food products. The draft regulation establishes comprehensive standards for the types and quantities of vitamins and minerals permitted in food items sold within the Kingdom.
1. Regulatory Framework and Objectives
The updated regulation aims to improve the nutritional status of the community and prevent chronic diseases by ensuring food products are safely and effectively fortified. A primary focus of the SFDA is to prevent consumer deception; the regulation mandates that fortification must not be used to mislead consumers regarding the true nutritional value of a product.
Notably, the regulation enforces a zero-addition rule for unprocessed foods. Manufacturers are strictly prohibited from adding vitamins or minerals to fresh, unprocessed items such as fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, and honey. Furthermore, any added nutrients must be in a bio-available form, ensuring they can be effectively absorbed by the human body.
2. Key Product Categories and Standards
The regulation provides specific technical requirements for several high-consumption food categories:
Dairy Products: Fortification with Vitamins A and D is mandatory for most liquid milk products, including pasteurized, UHT, and flavored milk. For instance, pasteurized milk must contain 200 IU of Vitamin A and 40 IU of Vitamin D per 100 ml. Fortification is optional for full-fat dairy products.
Wheat Flour: Standards vary based on the flour extraction rate. Low-extraction flour must be fortified with specific forms of Iron (such as Ferrous Sulfate or Electrolytic Iron), Zinc, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B12.
Infant Formula and Young Children's Foods: The regulation sets strict minimum and maximum ranges for a wide array of nutrients, including Vitamin K, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and various minerals like Manganese and Selenium, tailored to specific age groups.
Bottled Water: Addition of Fluoride is permitted but must remain within the range of 0.5 mg/L to 1.5 mg/L.
Vegetable Oils: Permitted fortification levels for edible oils are set at 30,000 IU/L for Vitamin A and 3,000 IU/L for Vitamin D.
3. Labeling and Health Claims
Transparency in labeling is a cornerstone of the new measure. The SFDA explicitly prohibits manufacturers from including claims on labels that suggest a balanced and varied diet cannot provide adequate levels of nutrients. All nutrient quantities must be expressed in metric units, and labels may optionally include the percentage of the Nutrient Reference Value (% NRV).
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