140 experts to address SFDA confab in Riyadh

More than 140 speakers from 23 countries will address the second annual conference of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority scheduled to take place at Riyadh International Convention and Exhibitions Center from Sept. 25 to 27.

“The conference will have 34 sessions and 24 workshops on food, drugs and medical devices,” said Abdul Rahman Al-Sultan, executive director for communications and awareness at SFDA.

He said more than 100 educational and public awareness materials would be displayed and presented during the conference, considered the largest of its kind in the region on food, drugs, medical equipment and products.

The conference serves one of the fastest growing sectors in the Kingdom with an estimated market value of SR41 billion, where business opportunities and projects are wide and attractive.

“Finding new markets is not an easy task and you should always look for the best opportunities around the world. You have to look for the future of this business and the appropriate environment for it,” said Al-Sultan said while highlighting the significance of the three-day conference and exhibition.

He said the event would help market players to enter Saudi Arabia, the largest market in the Middle East and the Gulf region. “We will assist you in that step by making a decision to participate in the exhibition,” he said in a message to international organizations and companies.

He said the authority wanted to create the necessary environment for national and multinational companies to contribute in pushing the economic wheel in the fields of food, drug, medical devices, cosmetics, pesticides and animal feed.

“This is the first specialized exhibition in the region combining food, drugs and medical equipment under one umbrella. It’s also an important meeting point between the SFDA and its partners,” Al-Sultan said.

Participation in the conference will help companies and organizations to communicate with key decision makers, he said, adding that the exhibition would showcase the latest products, services and advanced technologies.

The conference will discuss topics such as control and legislation of food products; food safety and risk assessment; animal feed and its impact on human and animal health; contaminants and pesticide residues in food; nutrition policies and their impact on public health; legislation and specifications of innovative food products; and halal food regulations and innovations.

Topics related to drugs will include localization of the pharmaceutical industry; medical fraud and the quality of medicines and preparations; pharmacovigilance; pharmacoepidemiology; the economics and pricing of medications; control and legislation of medicines and preparations; and cosmetics.