Certificate of Conformity for Exports to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) introduced the new Saudi Product Safety Program named as "SALEEM",which will replace the current Conformity Assessment program. SALEEM program is concerned with the safety of products in the Saudi market, that is why the program was called SALEEM, as SALEEM in Arabic indicates that the product is safe, secure and free of flaws that may directly or indirectly harm individuals, society or environment.
Under SALEEM, product and shipment conformity program will be operated via the new online system named as "SABER". Starting from January 2019, SABER will be implemented gradually by technical regulations (TR). Upon implementation, importers importing products regulated by the TR are required to register the products on the system for obtaining Certificate of Conformity after passing assessment.
All consignment of products intended to be imported to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia must present the Certificate of Shipment Conformity at Saudi Customs for a smooth clearance.
QIMA: A SASO-Approved Conformity Assessment Body
QIMA is one of the SASO approved Conformity Assessment Bodies (CB) and is authorized to issue Certificates of Conformity for products exporting from the following regions:
- Asia and Australia, click to see our approved product scope
- Europe, click to see our approved product scope
- Americas (North and South), click to see our approved product scope
- Middle East and North African countries, click to see our approved product scope
Certificate for products under SABER implemented TR are issued through the SABER system.
How to Get Started https://saber.sa/
1. SABER System
SABER is a platform that allows importers and local manufacturer to electronically obtain the required Certificate of Conformity and Certificate of Shipment Conformity for consumer goods whether it was imported or locally manufactured to enter the Saudi market. The platform aims to protect the businesses from fraud and ensure that products are free from defects that may affect the health and safety of consumers.
Importers and local manufacturer will be able to request Certificate of Conformity (Both Product and Shipment Certificate of Conformity) for their products easily through SABER.
The mechanism of the SABER system is divided into 3 steps as below.
*Risk level of product
Risk level of the product is assigned by the system based on the supplied HS code and product category. Those items that are not regulated by any Saudi Arabian technical regulation are classified as low-risk items.
2. Product Registration
- Importer input details of product in SABER
- SABER system will verify if the product is regulated or not base on HS code or product category
3. Type Approval Certificate (Product Certificate of Conformity)
- Scope: Products that are regulated by Saudi Arabia TR which SABER have been implemented for
- Click herefor list of technical regulation
- Validity: One year
- Required document:
- Conformity document, such as test reports, quality certificates, risk assessment reports, inspection report etc if applicable
- Design, dimension, plans, specification photo of the products if applicable
* For products not regulated by Saudi Arabia TR, self-declaration according to the approved forms by SASO is sufficient, Type Approval Certificates are not needed.
Type Approval Certificate will be issued through SABER system after compliance to relevant standards is proven and after approval by SASO Approved Conformity Assessment Body.
4. Shipment Certificate of Conformity
- Scope: All product
- Validity: Per consignment (to be used within 15 days after issuance)
- Required document:
- Type Approval Certificate / Self declaration
- Shipment Document, such as invoice, packing list, bill of lading etc.
Shipment Certificate is required for each consignment. Issuance of Shipment Certificate for shipments of non-regulated products and regulated products under SABER implemented TR are done through SABER.
5. SABER Implementation
Currently, SABER is gradually implementing, one TR at a time. Upon implementation, products subject to the relevant TR shall prove the conformity specified in the TR through SABER platform. Certificate of Conformity will be issued through SABER for those products.
6. SASO announcement
Please note the following:
- QIMA will stop issuing any SASO CoC for regulated products under the remaining technical regulations (TR) from the SABER system / SABER CoC program starting on 15/01/2020.
- QIMA will issue only the PCoCs for regulated products from the SABER platform.
- All traders shall obtain the shipment certificate for all non-regulated products via the SABER platform.
- Starting from 15/02/2020, no shipment will enter Saudi Arabia unless it has the required certifications via SABER only.
7. List of products subject to TR that shall prove the specified conformity through SABER platform*
| Implementation date | Example of Products processed by SABER | Relevant Technical Regulation |
| Jan 2019 | Leakage alarm system, LPG metal cylinder, gas supply hose, valves for gas cylinder, cooking stoves, LPG powered heater notes: Saudi quality mark required. Intervention from CB is not required after acquisition of Saudi quality mark |
M.A.-156-16-04-04 Technical Regulation for Gas Appliances and their Accessories |
| Apr 2019 | Products designed for use in play by children under 14 years of age | BD-131704-01 Technical Regulation on Children Toys |
| Electrical and electronic devices and appliances that contain electrical and/or electronic component with a voltage rating of 50-1000 V for AC and 75-1500 V for DC | BD-142004-01 Technical Regulation for Low Voltage Electrical Equipment and Appliances |
|
| Lubricating oil, brake fluid, automatic transmission fluid, hydraulic oil | S.V.-155-16-03-01 Technical Regulation for Lubricating Oils |
|
| Jun 2019 | Elevator intended for public use in buildings and facilities, and certain elevator safety component | M.A. 161-17-07-05 Technical Regulation for Lifts Used in Building and Installations |
| Metals and their alloys for building and civil engineering works e.g. steel sheet, steel wire, aluminium and its alloys for building purpose |
M.A. 156-16-03-01 Technical Regulation of Building Materials Part 1: Metals and their Alloys for Constructions and Buildings |
|
| Insulation and cladding material except tiles, ceramics, marble, stone, paint |
M.A. 156-16-03-02 Technical Regulation of Building Materials Part 2: Insulation Products and Building Cladding Materials |
|
| Hydraulic connections and related product e.g. cement, building lime, gypsum, premixed concrete products and derivatives, cement bricks, chemical additions of concrete except reinforced concrete, concrete precast note: only type 3 assessment is required, but suppliers are required to sign an agreement to authorize the governmental authority to conduct type 5 assessment. note: Saudi Quality Mark or equivalent is required for cement and precast concrete |
M.A. 161-17-07-02 Technical Regulation of Building Materials Part 3: Hydraulic Connections and Related Material |
|
| Bricks, tiles, marble and stone, sanitary ware, ceramic tiles and ceramic bricks except cement tiles and bricks notes: Saudi quality mark required for ceramic ware. Intervention from CB is not required after acquisition of Saudi quality mark |
M.A. 161-17-07-03 Technical Regulation of Building Materials Part 4: Bricks, Tiles, Ceramic, Sanitary Ware and Related Materials |
|
| Aug 2019 | Emulsion paints, oil paints and varnishes for use in residential and commercial buildings, and public utilities | M.A.-155.16.03.03 Technical Regulation for Paints (Dyes) and Varnishes |
| Electric self-balancing plates (Scooters) | M.A.-155-06-03-04 Technical Regulation for the Electric Self-Balancing Boards (Scooter) |
|
| Disposable products manufactured from polypropylene and polyethylene plastics which are often used for a short time | M.A.-156-16-04-03 Technical Regulation for Degradable Plastic Products |
|
| Car batteries, portable batteries, such as button cells, weighting less than 1kg | M.A. -166-18-04-02 Technical Regulation for Electrical Batteries |
|
| Nov 2019 | New spare parts for motor vehicles except tires, vehicles batteries and safety barriers |
B.D.-162-17-04-02 Technical Regulation for Auto Spare Parts |
| Personal protection products e.g. firefighting clothing, eye protection equipment, gloves, safety shoes except for medical equipment and protective clothing for medical or military uses |
M.A.-165-18-04-04 Technical Regulation for Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing |
|
| Dec 2019 | Voltage inverters, cables, control equipment | M.A. 165-18-04-03 Technical Regulation for Small-Solar Photovoltaic Systems |
| Textile products e.g. silk, wool, cotton, fabrics |
M.A.-164-18-05-02 Technical Regulation for Textile Products |
|
| Trailers and Semi-Trailers | M.A.-162-17-07-04 Technical Regulations for Trailers and Semi-Trailers |
|
| Detergents, surfactants, soap e.g. liquid glass cleaner, liquid dishwashing detergent except disinfectants |
M.A. 155-16-03-02 Technical Regulation for Detergents |
|
| Products of solar energy generating systems and their component e.g. photovoltaic units, cables and connectors |
M.A. 165-18-04-03 Technical Regulation for Photovoltaic Cells |
|
| Front, side and rear protection barriers for trucks and trailers with a maximum weight of 3.5 tons | M.A.-161-17-07-04 Technical Regulations for Front and Rear and Side Barriers for Trucks and Trailers |
|
| Jan 2020 | Equipment, machinery ad structures that are installed permanently or temporarily in recreational cities | M.A. 165-18-04-02 Technical Regulation for Games and Devices of Amusement Parks |
| Adhesives and glue products e.g. structural adhesives, adhesives for leather, footwear, wood products, paper, packaging |
Technical Regulation for Adhesives Materials, Tapes, Glue and Related Products | |
| Plastic metal products manufactured in the form of costume for decoration e.g. hair, hands and neck accessories |
Technical Regulation for Ornaments and Decorations | |
| Plastic and metal pipe system used in transport of water and electrical installations in building and accessories | Technical Regulation of Building Materials Part 5: Pipes of Plastic and Pipes of Metal Used in Water and Electricity Installation Networks | |
| Wireless communication devices e.g. mobile phones, headsets, smart devices |
Technical Regulation for Telecommunications Devices | |
| Packaging products: paper, cardboard, wood, plastics, textile, and any other materials used in packaging | Technical Regulation for Packaging | |
| Materials and surfaces in contact with food e.g. cooking equipment, tableware, food packaging materials and containers |
Technical Regulation of Materials and Surfaces for Contact with Food | |
| Footwear made of leather, textile, plastic or a mixture of these material | Technical Regulation for Shoes and Leather | |
| Devices operating under pressure and their accessories e.g. fire extinguishers, pressure cookers |
Technical Regulation for Simple Pressure Devices | |
| Products for fire fighting e.g. fire extinguisher, alarm systems, fire hoses |
Technical Regulation for Fire Fighting Equipment | |
| Fireworks products e.g. firecrackers, fireworks, mine |
Technical Regulation for Fireworks | |
| Electric vehicles with a weight not exceeding 3500 kg and speed not exceeding 25 km/h | M.A.-162-17-04-03 Technical Regulations for Electric Vehicles |
|
| Doors, windows and its accessories made of plastics, wood, glass or metal eg. warehouse doors, armored doors, fireproof doors |
Technical Regulations for Doors and Windows | |
| Paper and paperboard | Technical Regulations for Papers and Related Products | |
| Portable Machines, cutting and sewing machines, cranes, mobile machines used in general construction, drilling machines | Technical Regulations for Machinery Safety - Part 1: Portable and Oriented Machines | |
| New Pneumatic tires for vehicles | Gulf Technical Regulations of Tyres | |
| E-cigarette note: IECEE registration required |
M.A. -172-19-04-03 Technical Regulations for Electronic Devices Used in Electronic Smoking Systems |
|
| Motorcycle | Technical Regulations for Motorcycle | |
| Petroleum product transport tanks | E.M. -171-19-06-03 Technical Regulations for Tanks - Part 1: Petroleum Products Transport Tanks |
|
| TBD | Products for energy efficiency Eg. air conditioner, refrigerator, washing machine, lighting products, electric motor, clothes dryer, water heater, tire, and automobile fuel economy |
M.A.-156-16-04-05 Technical Regulation for Energy Efficiency |
| Showerheads, taps, single and dual flush toilets, flush urinals | M.A.-156-16-04-06 Technical Regulation for Water Rationalization Tools |
|
| Electronic products note: refer to IECEE CRD |
M.A. 155-16-04-01 SASO IECEE Recognition Certificate Requirement |
|
| Modified vehicle under 3500 kg, limited production except for vehicle for military and security purpose |
M.A. 166-18-04-03 Technical Regulation for Modified Vehicles and Limited Production Vehicles |
|
| Vehicle Maintenance sector and establishments | M.A. 164-18-05-04 Technical Regulation for Classification of Vehicle Maintenance Centres |
|
| Fuel economy for vehicles and energy efficiency for tires | M.A. 155-16-10-01-01 Technical Regulation for the procedures of data registration and the issuance of Energy efficiency label in vehicles and tires |
* Last updated: 16 Jan 2020
