The National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) conducted more than 19,000 laboratory analyses during 2025 as part of its environmental monitoring efforts, which included collecting 1,447 water and soil samples to measure pollutant concentrations, identify contamination types, and assess their impact on the surrounding environment.
According to a press release issued by the center today, Director General of Environmental Laboratories Management at NCEC Dr. Sahar Shar said that the analyses enabled the rapid detection of pollution and illegal discharge violations, supporting regulatory and technical decision-making processes to address environmental breaches promptly. She added that the findings also supported investigations into environmental violations and crimes in cases involving serious environmental harm.
She noted that the center conducted technical audits on 44 licensed and accredited laboratories responsible for sample analysis to ensure compliance with approved scientific standards and regulatory requirements. According to the 2025 assessment results, 40% of the laboratories were found to be fully compliant, while 30% showed partial compliance and another 30% were deemed non-compliant.
Dr. Shar explained that non-compliant laboratories will undergo reassessment under a mechanism designed to improve compliance levels and enhance operational efficiency within private-sector environmental laboratories.
She stated that the center has strengthened the efficiency of environmental laboratory assessment and accreditation processes by developing workforce capabilities and enabling staff to obtain professional accreditations in accordance with the international standard ISO/IEC 17025:2017, which contributes to enhancing oversight and supervision of environmental laboratories.
She emphasized that the advancement of laboratory operations represents a key pillar of the environmental monitoring system by providing accurate data that supports environmental compliance and reinforces reliance on scientific evidence to protect the environment and improve environmental quality across the Kingdom.
Source: Riyadh Daily