4 مراحل صارمة قبل الإغلاق.. ضوابط جديدة مقترحة للتفتيش

The National Center for Inspection and Control has proposed a policy project titled "National Framework for Inspection Activities," which aims to establish a new phase of unified and mandatory regulatory work for all government entities, and to end individual interpretations in inspection processes by establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework that applies to all regulatory bodies authorized to conduct inspections or supervise them, covering all regulatory activities according to the applicable laws and regulations.

The project stipulates that regulatory bodies abandon traditional methods and transition to a professional methodology consisting of four strict phases, starting with risk-based planning, followed by preparation and execution, leading to the post-inspection phase and case closure.

It includes the adoption of the principle of "awareness and compliance first" by government entities, placing the responsibility on them to educate and guide establishments on regulatory requirements before imposing penalties, ensuring that inspections are results-oriented rather than focused on formal procedures.

The project prohibits turning inspection visits into a forum for discussing fines or penalties while on-site, limiting the inspector's role to observing professional facts and collecting evidence without engaging in disputes with the establishment.

Under these controls, regulatory bodies are required to build their annual plans based on a "risk-based approach," ensuring that human and logistical resources are directed towards establishments that are in greater need of oversight or are more hazardous, rather than random inspections.

The proposal works on establishing the principle of "consistency and predictability," which ensures that establishments undergo fair and consistent inspection processes, obligating entities to clearly publish their expectations and requirements, and to document any deviations from methodological procedures with clear and transparent justifications.

The national framework emphasizes the principle of neutrality, obliging them to make decisions based solely on objective evidence, free from any conflicts of interest or external influences that may affect the professionalism of regulatory work.

Remote Inspection

The proposal provides precise standards for "remote inspection," considering it an official parallel method to field inspection, provided that the same documentation standards and evidence quality are adhered to, along with strict verification of identities and digital documents.

It grants establishments additional protection by organizing the entry mechanism, as the inspector is required to present their official identity and powers upon arrival, while respecting the operational processes of the establishment and minimizing any disruption to its activities.

The submitted proposal emphasizes that regulatory bodies should not conduct surprise visits except in specific cases that warrant it, such as the presence of public safety risks or credible reports, while the norm is to notify the establishment of the inspection well in advance.

The policy also requires documenting results with complete transparency and informing establishments of them, while giving them the opportunity to provide feedback or corrective plans before proceeding to enforcement actions or the official closure of the file.

The new proposed controls encourage highlighting the positive practices of establishments and providing ongoing knowledge support and guidance to ensure sustained compliance with regulations, enhancing the governance of evidence, and requiring regulatory bodies to collect and store data systematically in a manner that protects the privacy of establishments and ensures their right to object or appeal based on established and traceable facts.

This step comes to unify the regulatory language in the Kingdom, ensuring that the business environment is governed by clear controls that reduce unjustified operational burdens and increase the efficiency and reliability of government performance in the inspection sector.