SASO (Saudi Organization for Standards, Metrology and Quality) is the national standards organization of Saudi Arabia. SASO requires certain documents for export to Saudi Arabia to ensure that products comply with Saudi standards and regulations. The main export documents usually include:

Certificate of Conformity (CoC): Mandatory for most products and confirms compliance with Saudi standards.

Commercial Invoice: Details the transaction between the exporter and importer.Packing List: Describes the contents of the shipment.

Bill of Lading/Air Waybill: Proof of shipment and contract between the shipper and carrier.In addition to the fact that SASO is a government body responsible for developing and implementing standards for products and services in Saudi Arabia, it also ensures that products meet quality and safety requirements.

Here are some important things to know about SASO:

Purpose: SASO’s primary goal is to protect consumers and ensure fair trading practices. They do this by setting standards, verifying compliance, and promoting a culture of quality.

Standardization:

– Develops and publishes national standards (Saudi Standards) across industries including food, construction, electronics and more.

– Ensures that these standards comply with international best practices and regulations.

Conformity Assessment:

– Implement systems such as FASEH (for food products) and SALEEM (for product safety) to ensure that products meet Saudi standards.

– Conducts testing, inspection and certification of products.

Metrology:

– Oversees the accuracy of measurements and calibration across industries to ensure consistency and reliability.

Consumer Protection:

– Ensures that products on the market are safe, reliable and meet quality standards.

– Addresses consumer complaints regarding product quality and safety.

– Trade Facilitation:

– Works to eliminate technical barriers to trade by aligning Saudi standards with international standards.

– Supports exporters and importers to comply with Saudi regulations.

Importance for Business: If you are planning to export products to Saudi Arabia, understanding and adhering to SASO standards is vital. It ensures that your products enter the market smoothly.

If you plan to export products to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, you will need to obtain a Saber Certificate for the exported goods. The Saber Certificate is an official document issued by accredited conformity assessment bodies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and can be obtained online.

Approved Conformity Assessment Bodies are selected companies that have been approved by SASO (Saudi Standards Metrology and Quality Organisation) to carry out conformity assessments of products to determine that the tested product complies with the regulations and is therefore worthy of the Saber Certificate. It can be imported into the Kingdom.

The purpose of requiring a Saber certificate is to ensure that the imported product complies with the relevant legislation and standards and is safe for consumer health and the environment.

Before obtaining the Saber certificate, the product needs to be registered in the system. The registration process will require information about the manufacturer, details about the product and information about the importer. Once the product is registered with the appropriate HSCode, we will be able to determine the category of the product. There are two main categories: ‘non-regulated products’ and these are low-risk products such as furniture and are not subject to any Saudi technical regulations, so they only require a self-declaration supported by documentation. The second category will be medium to high-risk products such as textiles, equipment and tools that come into direct contact with food, toys for children under the age of 14 and other children’s products such as strollers, machinery and spare parts, detergents and electronic items. These products are subject to Saudi technical regulations and need to obtain a Product Conformity Certificate.

The test reports of the products must be up-to-date and must be tested in a 17025 approved laboratory.

The Saber Certificate is valid for one year after it is issued. The manufacturer and/or exporter must apply for a new Saber Certificate after one year, taking into account any updates that may occur in the legislation.

There are many rules and laws that govern Food Exports to Saudi Arabia. Exporters of products must obtain a Halal Certificate and other testing and inspection certificates that provide information about the composition, content, and storage information of the product.

Products such as food, medicine, cosmetics, animal feed, pesticides, and medical equipment are subject to SFDA regulations, and each different product category may need to provide different types of certificates.

Import procedures are subject to Article 7 of the KSA Food Law, which states that no food shall be allowed into KSA unless approved by the SFDA. Article 3, Paragraph 4 of the same Law states that countries exporting food to Saudi Arabia must comply with the import conditions and procedures imposed by the SFDA.

SFDA has created a platform where product categories and related regulations are shared to ensure food safety and facilitate import procedures. Products containing ‘trans fats’ and ‘partially hydrogenated oils’ are subject to high levels of regulation and therefore must be tested. In addition, products such as raw honey, artificial honey and foods containing added sugar are subject to certain composition tests before import.

This article will cover Food Imports and related legislation. Food SFDA means ‘any material (raw, fresh, processed or partially processed) intended for human consumption. It will also include any substance used in the manufacturing preparation or processing of food.’ Another important concept is: ‘Food Chain: the different stages food goes through from primary production to human consumption, including import, export, manufacture, preparation and processing, packaging, storage, transportation, possession, distribution, offering for sale, and sale’.

Foods intended for consumption in Saudi Arabia must have a ‘Halal Food Certificate’. Obtaining a Halal Certificate means that the food is allowed to be consumed by eating, drinking, injecting or inhaling according to Islamic rules and must comply with the requirements set out in the SFDA.FD/GSO 2055-1 and SFDA.FD/GSO 993 standards.

Halal Certificate: Halal Certificate confirms that the business has received Halal Certificate from Halal Certification Bodies (HCBs) recognized by Halal Center-SFDA according to the halal standards and regulations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

FASEH is part of SASO (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization). FASEH is the Saudi Conformity Assessment System for Food Products. It is a regulatory framework designed to ensure that food products imported into or produced in Saudi Arabia meet the country’s safety, quality and labeling standards.

FASEH Key Features:

Purpose: FASEH aims to protect consumer health and ensure the safety of food products in the Saudi market.

Scope: Applies to all food products, including imported and locally produced goods.

Certification: Food products must undergo conformity assessment and receive a FASEH certificate before they can be sold in Saudi Arabia.

Labeling Requirements: Products must comply with Saudi labeling standards, including Arabic information.

Testing and Inspection: Products may be subject to testing and inspection to verify compliance with Saudi standards.

How FASEH Works:

Registration: Importers or manufacturers must register their products through the FASEH system.

Documents: Required documents include product details, certificates of analysis, and proof of compliance with Saudi standards.

Certification: Once approved, a FASEH certificate is issued, allowing the product to enter the Saudi market.

FASEH Importance:

Ensures food safety and quality for consumers.

Facilitates trade by standardizing requirements for food products.

Aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 goals to improve regulatory frameworks and consumer protection.