"Wiqaa" imposes strict restrictions on the import of living organisms and bans genetically modified ones.

The National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases in Saudi Arabia has approved a guide regulating the import, production, and use of biological control agents within the Kingdom. The guide designates the Center’s Plant Health Sector as the authority responsible for issuing the necessary licenses and permits, based on recommendations from a specialized technical committee. These permits will be valid for one year and are renewable.

The guide stipulates that prior approval from the Center is required for all import, production, and use operations, with the Center retaining the right to revoke licenses in cases of non-compliance. The Center will also maintain an updated list of approved biological control agents, serving as a reference for both government and private entities. It is responsible for implementing the decisions of the technical committee, managing all files related to biological control agent registration, issuing permits and approvals, and monitoring imported, exported, and produced agents to ensure they meet established standards.

The technical committee comprises experts in plant protection, biological control, environment, and biodiversity, and is chaired by the Center’s administration. It is tasked with studying technical files, making decisions regarding the registration of biological control agents, evaluating their effectiveness, and contributing to updates in relevant regulations.

The registration process begins with submitting an application to the Center, which then forwards it to the committee for data and document review. The committee has one week to request any missing information; otherwise, the application will be rejected. The evaluation includes bio-efficacy trials to determine the effectiveness of the agent and its impact on the environment. Following this, the Center issues a final registration decision.

The guide requires that imported biological control agents must already be present in the local environment or be included on an approved positive list, and the import of genetically modified organisms is prohibited. Import requests must include detailed technical and administrative files concerning the target pest, the biological control agent, and potential risks.

The guide allows companies, research centers, and universities to produce approved biological control agents, provided they adhere to strict quality standards. This requires specialized facilities and scientific and technical expertise for rearing and propagating these organisms.

The Center and the technical committee will verify the accuracy of the submitted data and assess potential risks to public health, the environment, and biodiversity. The committee reserves the right to request additional data or impose restrictive measures.

The guide permits universities and research centers to import invasive biological control agents solely for scientific research purposes, under strict conditions ensuring no environmental impact.

The guide establishes timelines for processing applications: one month for local or previously licensed biological control agents, and four months for unregistered, invasive agents.

All licensed companies and production units are subject to Center monitoring to ensure the quality of produced biological control agents, including the granting of export permits in accordance with international standards.

Shipments of biological control agents arriving at ports of entry are subject to strict inspection by agricultural quarantine inspectors, and any shipment failing to meet the requirements will be returned or destroyed.

Biological control agents are released under suitable climatic conditions, and the Center oversees the evaluation of their impact on target and non-target pests and on local biodiversity.

The registration of products containing microorganisms is based on the standard requirements for chemical pesticides, taking into account that the risk level of these products is relatively low. These products undergo bio-efficacy trials and field trials before being registered or traded in the Kingdom.