Saudi Arabia requirements to certify imports

Suppliers looking to export products to the Kingdom are required to do so through the Kingdom’s SALEEM product safety program that includes SABER, an electronic portal used to register both regulated and unregulated products with the required shipping documents. The portal can only be accessed by importers, SASO-approved certification bodies (CB), and Saudi customs officials.

Two certificates must be obtained prior to shipment.  First- the products certificate of conformity (PCoC), which is valid for one year and carries a fee per product model.  Additional charges will be given if a factory audit is required for products considered high risk. The second required certificate is the shipment certificate (SC). The SC is required for each individual shipment.

Requesting a PCoC can be complicated and can lead to unnecessary charges if completed incorrectly. It is best to outsource an authorized certification body to assist with this process. PCoC is made up of four grouping parameters: product description, HS code, manufacturer and country of origin. If any of these parameters is different than a separate PCoC is required for each product. Product families can be grouped together. 

A list of SASO-approved certification bodies can be found at https://saber.sa/home/cborganizations.  SASO charges a fee for each PCoC and if a factory audit is required, as in the case for aftermarket auto parts, an additional fee is also charged. Auto parts fall under three classifications: genuine parts, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM’s), and aftermarket parts. Genuine parts and OEM’s fall in the Scheme 1A of the SASO technical regulations where no factory auditing is required. Aftermarket parts fall under scheme 3 of the SASO technical regulations. All aftermarket parts require a factory audit. 

     
There are also labeling and marking requirements that must be followed. The packaging must display in Arabic and/or English the manufacturer’s name or trademark, vehicle type, and the category for which the parts are manufactured. Any approval mark (ECAS/EQM) if approved, month and year of manufacture (if necessary), part name and number, fitting/installation instructions, and safety and maintenance instructions. 

For more information please contact Saad Ahmed- Commercial Specialist at saad.ahmed@trade.gov.