Approval of the Guide for the Transport of Livestock and Livestock Products and Its Entry into Force from the Date of Publication

On 28/4/1448 AH, corresponding to 9/10/2026 AD, Umm Al Qura Gazette published the decision of the Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Agriculture approving the Guide for the Transport of Livestock and Livestock Products. The decision was issued under No. 482563455 dated 16/4/1448 AH and was signed by the Acting Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Sulaiman bin Ali Al Khatib.

In Brief

The first clause of the decision approved a technical guide on the transport of livestock and livestock products in the form attached to the decision. The second clause provided that the decision takes effect from the date of its publication and repeals all previous decisions that conflict with it. The text published in the Gazette did not include the details of the guide itself, so the attached version must be consulted before any operational decision is made.

What Exactly Did This Decision Establish?

The decision consists of only two clauses following the preamble, which sets out the legal basis and the delegation of authority. The first clause approved the Guide for the Transport of Livestock and Livestock Products in the form attached to the decision. The second clause dealt with the effective date, the communication of the decision to those responsible for implementing and acting upon it, and the repeal of conflicting decisions.

This means the decision itself is an instrument of approval and the detailed provisions are found in the attached guide. Reading the decision alone is therefore not enough to know the practical requirements that the parties concerned must comply with.

What Is the Legal Basis of the Decision?

The decision relied on Article 36 of the Agriculture Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/64 dated 10/8/1442 AH. It also relied on Ministerial Decision No. 14967/1/1444 dated 15/1/1444 AH, which approved the Implementing Regulations of the Agriculture Law.

The preamble stated that the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture gave his written approval on letter No. 26555/2384/1444 dated 9/3/1444 AH. This approval delegated to the Deputy Minister for Agriculture the authority to issue the technical guides relating to the Implementing Regulations of the Agriculture Law. The delegation also covered issuing and amending the conditions and controls for these guides under Article 35 of the Agriculture Law.

The new guide is therefore not a decision separate from the law. It is a technical instrument linked to the Agriculture Law and its Implementing Regulations. This link makes compliance with the guide part of complying with the legal framework the Ministry applies in the agriculture and livestock sector.

When Does the New Guide Take Effect?

The second clause of the decision provides that “this decision shall take effect from the date of its publication”. The decision was published in Umm Al Qura Gazette on 28/4/1448 AH, corresponding to 9/10/2026 AD, as shown on the published page of the decision.

The decision did not mention any transitional period or grace period for regularisation before application begins. The general rule is therefore that the guide applies from the date of publication unless the attached guide itself contains different provisions on phased application.

Item	Date
Date of issue of the decision	16/4/1448 AH
Date of publication in Umm Al Qura Gazette	28/4/1448 AH, corresponding to 9/10/2026 AD
Entry into force of the decision	From the date of publication
Transitional period	Not mentioned in the decision

What Does the Repeal of Conflicting Decisions Mean?

The second clause of the decision states that it “repeals all previous decisions that conflict with it”. The decision did not identify these decisions by name, number or date.

In practice, any previous decision that contradicts the new guide can no longer be relied upon after the date of publication. Nothing in the text of the decision indicates that previous decisions which do not conflict with the guide have been repealed. Identifying the points of conflict requires a careful comparison between the new guide and the decisions the business has been following.

Who Is Covered by This Guide?

The published decision did not specify particular categories addressed by the guide. It only provided that the guide be communicated to those responsible for implementing and acting upon it. The title of the guide suggests that it concerns anyone engaged in transporting livestock or livestock products.

This may include transport companies, livestock breeders and traders, and businesses that deal in livestock products. The exact scope of those covered by the guide can only be confirmed after reviewing the text attached to the decision.

Why Does This Decision Matter to Corporate Compliance Departments?

The guide was issued under the Agriculture Law and its Implementing Regulations and under an express delegation from the Minister pursuant to Article 35 of the Law. Failing to align internal procedures with it may therefore expose a business to regulatory risk in its dealings with the competent authorities.

The immediate entry into force also means that existing contracts and current operating procedures may need prompt review. This matters most for businesses that depend on the continuous transport of livestock or livestock products between regions or to markets.

What Do We Not Yet Know from the Published Text?

The text published in Umm Al Qura Gazette was limited to the approval decision and did not set out the provisions of the guide itself. From this text we cannot determine the technical requirements, the documents required or the specifications for means of transport.

The decision also does not contain any penalties or violations connected with the new guide. We believe that discussing these details before reviewing the attached guide could lead to incorrect operational decisions.

What Should Be Done Now

We first recommend obtaining the full version of the guide attached to the decision from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture or its official channels. The decision refers to the guide in its attached form, and that version contains the detailed provisions that must be applied.

The business should then list the previous decisions and instructions it follows in transporting livestock and livestock products. These decisions should then be compared with the new guide to identify what conflicts with it and is treated as repealed under the second clause of the decision.

We also recommend reviewing transport contracts with suppliers, customers and contracted carriers to confirm that they are consistent with the guide. Internal operating procedures should be updated, and staff working in transport and loading should be informed of any new requirements the guide contains.

Finally, we advise documenting the alignment steps the business takes and their dates from the date of publication. This record helps the business demonstrate its good faith handling of the decision if the competent authorities ask for evidence of compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There Time to Adjust Before the Guide Applies?

The decision did not mention any transitional period, and its second clause provides for entry into force from the date of publication. The guide should therefore be treated as in force from 28/4/1448 AH unless the attached guide contains a different provision.

Have All Previous Decisions on Livestock Transport Been Repealed?

The second clause repealed only previous decisions that conflict with the decision and did not identify them. The text of the decision does not indicate that decisions which do not conflict with it have been repealed, and reviewing them remains necessary in each case.

Who Issued the Guide and Under What Authority?

It was issued by the Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Agriculture under Article 36 of the Agriculture Law. His authority rests on a delegation from the Minister to issue the technical guides relating to the Implementing Regulations under Article 35 of the Law.

Where Can I Find the Technical Transport Requirements?

The details are in the guide attached to the decision and are not part of the decision text published in Umm Al Qura Gazette. We advise requesting the official version from the Ministry and reviewing it with a legal adviser before changing any operating procedure.

If your business transports livestock or livestock products, or contracts with those who do, Perfect Solution Lawyers and Consultants will be glad to help you review the guide and align your procedures with it. You can learn about our governance and compliance services or request a meeting with our team to discuss your business’s position.

The official source is the decision of the Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Agriculture published in Umm Al Qura Gazette.

This article is for general awareness and does not constitute legal advice.