In Saudi pest control, “SFDA-approved” should mean that the product is registered with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority as a public health pesticide and can be found on the SFDA’s list of registered public health pesticides. It is not a guarantee that a product is suitable for every area of your site, and it says nothing by itself about the contractor applying it. For a facility manager the useful step is simple: ask for the product name, active ingredient and SFDA registration number, and check them.
This article is based on public SFDA, GCC and WHO material checked in October 2026. In the English-language SFDA material we reviewed, the wording is “registered” rather than “approved”. Rules and portals change, so confirm the current position with the SFDA (unified contact centre 19999) or your legal adviser before relying on it.
What the SFDA does with pest control chemicals
The SFDA defines public health pesticides as pesticides registered for use primarily in public health programmes, to control disease vectors or for any other use aimed at protecting public health. It states that it scientifically evaluates all pesticides used to control public health pests. Manufacturers and importers register products through an SFDA e-service so they can trade, market or export them.
Imports are controlled as well. Since 2018 the SFDA has issued the clearance permits for public health pesticide shipments, and a clearance application is only accepted if it is linked to a prior SFDA import permit. The SFDA also inspects the market. In a campaign announced in October 2018, its inspectors checked 416 pesticide facilities and found 247 unregistered products, and stated that unregistered or banned pesticides should not be sold or spread in the market. It is an older data point and concerned pesticide facilities in the market rather than pest control contractors, but it shows why checking registration is worthwhile.
How to check a product
- Ask for the product details in writing. You need the trade name, the active ingredient and its concentration, and the registration number.
- Look at the label. The GCC pesticides law and its implementing regulation, which the SFDA publishes in an English translation (the Arabic original prevails), lists the information a label must carry. It includes the trade name, the active substance and ratio, the local registration number, the production and expiry dates, safety precautions and first aid.
- Check the number against the SFDA list. The SFDA publishes a list of public health pesticides on its website so the public can verify a product’s name and registration number.
- Check the expiry date. The GCC law treats handling expired pesticides as a violation.
- Keep a copy. File the product list with the contract so you can see if products change.
Reading the chemistry on a label
You do not need to be a chemist, but a few terms appear on every proposal and label.
| Term | What it means | Why it matters to a buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | The biologically active part of the product | Two products with different trade names can contain the same active ingredient, so compare these rather than brand names |
| Concentration | The amount of active ingredient in the product | It differs between products and affects how the product is handled and used |
| Formulation | The active ingredient together with the other substances it is sold with, such as carriers and solvents | The formulation, not only the active ingredient, determines how a product behaves |
| Trade name | The name under which the product is registered and sold | The name you can match against the SFDA list |
| Registration number | The number issued by the competent authority after its assessment | The key reference for verification |
| Restricted pesticide | A pesticide on an official restricted list, which under the GCC law may only be applied by certified individuals under government supervision, or by companies the ministry has approved | Ask whether any restricted product is proposed for your site and who is authorised to apply it |
| Banned pesticide | A pesticide on an official banned list because of its high toxicity or environmental impact | It should not appear in any proposal |
| WHO hazard class | A classification of the acute risk of a pesticide to human health, set out in the WHO’s recommended classification | A useful guide to handling precautions, but it covers acute risk only and is not a complete safety verdict |
The GCC law sits within an agricultural framework, so confirm with the SFDA how each provision applies to public health products.
Terms that are not a guarantee
Proposals often use phrases that sound reassuring but are not the same as registration. We found no definition of “eco-friendly” or “safe” in the SFDA, GCC or WHO material reviewed for this article. Treat them as marketing until the contractor supplies the product list, the registration numbers and the safety information.
| Phrase in a proposal | What to ask |
|---|---|
| “SFDA-approved chemicals” | Which products, with registration numbers, and where are they on the SFDA list? |
| “Eco-friendly” or “safe for people and pets” | What is the active ingredient, what is its hazard class, and what precautions apply after treatment? |
| “Certified products” | Certified by whom, and can you see the document? |
| “Imported, international-grade” | Is this specific product registered in Saudi Arabia, not only in its country of origin? |
Chemicals are only one part of the control
Good practice limits how much chemical is needed. Codex food hygiene guidance says good sanitation, inspection of incoming materials and monitoring can limit the need for pesticides, and that treatment with chemical, physical or biological agents must not threaten the safety or suitability of food. In food areas, agree in advance how food, utensils and food-contact surfaces are protected during a visit.
The FAO describes integrated pest management as considering all available control techniques and keeping pesticides to levels that are justified and that minimise risks to human health and the environment. Ask your contractor to explain, for each area, why a chemical treatment rather than proofing, sanitation or trapping is proposed.
What to request from your contractor
- A product list showing trade name, active ingredient, registration number and hazard class for every product proposed.
- The safety information and label for each product, held where your team can find it.
- The areas where each product will be used, and any areas where it will not be used.
- Notice before any product is changed, with the new product’s details.
- Records of products and quantities used at each visit.
- Re-entry and notice arrangements for occupied areas such as kitchens, patient areas and guest rooms.
- Confirmation of who applies the products and how they are trained.
Have an exposure plan
The SFDA’s public guidance on pesticide exposure is to follow the label instructions, leave the affected area, remove contaminated clothing and call the Ministry of Health emergency number 937. Put that guidance in your site emergency procedure, and make sure the contractor’s product information is easy to reach if someone needs it.
Request a site survey
Crystal Facilities Management’s pest control service in Riyadh follows a four-step process of inspection, customised treatment, implementation and monitoring, as described on its website. It is delivered alongside the other services we provide across Facilities Management in Riyadh.
If you want a proposal that lists the products, the areas and the monitoring plan in writing, you can request a site survey.
