SFDA Achieves a Middle East First as Dammam Reference Laboratory Earns Accreditation for PFAS Monito

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has achieved a significant scientific and regulatory milestone by securing ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for its Dammam Reference Laboratory. With this achievement, it becomes the first national reference laboratory in the Middle East to develop and certify an advanced analytical method for monitoring Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in food products.

This accreditation represents a major step forward in protecting public health and elevating food safety standards across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. By strengthening laboratory readiness for the early detection of emerging chemical contaminants, the SFDA is expanding its scientific and regulatory capabilities in line with international best practices. The achievement also supports the Kingdom’s broader commitment to advancing food safety systems and safeguarding consumer health through advanced analytical technologies.

The SFDA emphasized that this achievement reflects Saudi Arabia’s accelerating progress in developing advanced national laboratory capabilities and strengthening its scientific infrastructure. These enhanced capabilities will enable the Authority to address emerging global regulatory priorities, strengthen the reliability of monitoring of both imported and locally produced food. The achievement further underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to adopting internationally recognized scientific standards and ensuring a high level of consumer protection.

Globally, PFAS have become an increasing focus of regulatory attention because of their persistence in the environment and their ability to accumulate in water, soil, and food systems. Consequently, authorities in many countries have introduced stricter monitoring requirements and strengthened risk management measures to limit exposure and safeguard public health.

The newly accredited analytical method covers more than 20 of these persistent pollutants, including the four highest priority compounds for global regulation: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA); Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA); Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS); and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). Its testing capabilities extend to a wide range of food products and related materials, including meat, milk, drinking water, and food packaging.

The accreditation reflects the advanced technical and scientific capabilities achieved by the SFDA’s laboratories and highlights their role in strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional and international leader in food safety and laboratory oversight. Backed by a science-based regulatory framework and internationally recognized standards, the achievement contributes to enhancing quality of life and advancing sustainable development goals, while supporting the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program under Saudi Vision 2030.