Saudi Arabia Leads Global Effort to Establish First International Standard for Fresh Dates

ROME, November 12, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has achieved a new international milestone in the food sector as the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) adopted the first-ever international standard for fresh dates during its 48th session held from November 10 to 14 at the FAO headquarters in Rome, according to a press release issued by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA).

The milestone was achieved while the Kingdom co-chaired the working group responsible for developing the standard, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s leadership and global influence in the food industry.

The adoption reflects the Kingdom’s leading role in the dates sector, where it stands as the world’s largest exporter, and highlights its commitment to advancing international food safety and quality standards. It also demonstrates the SFDA’s active contribution to strengthening global food systems and enabling Saudi products to compete more effectively in international markets.

Developed in close coordination between the SFDA and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the standard was the result of extensive collaboration among multiple national entities in the dates sector. The effort aims to enhance Saudi Arabia’s global trade competitiveness, boost export efficiency, and increase the international value of Saudi dates.

The newly adopted standard establishes unified specifications for the quality, safety, and classification of fresh dates, facilitating global trade and harmonizing food regulations among member states.

According to the SFDA, this achievement reflects the Kingdom’s technical and regulatory excellence in developing international food standards. The adoption of this standard is expected to further strengthen the competitiveness of Saudi dates, expand their global reach, and positively impact non-oil exports.

This initiative aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to position the Kingdom as a global hub for food production and trade, reinforce economic diversification, and enhance the global visibility of Saudi agricultural products.