The Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organisation (SASO) is the authority behind smoothly facilitating trade and commerce in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. SASO initiated the Saudi Product Safety Program by the name “SALEEM.” As the name suggests – the program is meant to facilitate safe, secure, smooth, and quality import/export within Saudi Arabia. This program plays a critical role in enhancing the overall trading experience of importers and exporters while creating solid standards for rigorous quality and safety checks.
SASO has put specific items under strict technical regulations, which must be followed by shipments arriving in Saudi Arabia. These products need to be tested and factory audited in the countries they come from. Only when they fulfill the quality and safety requirements per the technical regulations set by SASO are they allowed to be placed commercially in the Saudi market?
To answer how SASO keeps a check on the quality and safety of the import/export within Saudi Arabia, the SASO Certificate of Conformity testifies the products against the set standards by SASO.
SASO Certificate of Conformity Explained
A SASO Certificate of Conformity is a prerequisite for all the products imported to Saudi Arabia. Under this certificate- A Product Certificate of Conformity and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity is issued for the consignment arriving in Saudi Arabia. It is noted that SASO-notified Conformity Assessment Bodies can only issue a SASO certificate of Conformity.
Many importers/exporters use the word SABER certification when referring to the SASO Certificate of Conformity. The SABER and SASO certificates refer to the SASO Certificate of Conformity.
A SASO-notified Conformity Assessment Body can only issue a SASO Certificate of Conformity.
Under the SASO Certificate of Conformity, two essential certificates are issued for the consignments imported to Saudi Arabia. A Product Certificate of Conformity is required for a regulated product imported to Saudi Arabia, while a Shipment Certificate of Conformity is meant for every shipment reaching the Saudi port.
Product Certificate of Conformity
Any product under technical regulations set by SASO requires a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) to enter KSA. A PCoC applies to a specific product and is valid for a year. This means that a product having a Product Certificate of Conformity can be sent to Saudi Arabia several times a year.
A PCoC is issued only after a satisfactory test report and factory audit. The certification body issuing the SASO certification requires a set of documents from the importer/exporter. Once the documents are approved, and the reports are finalized, a Product Certificate of Conformity is issued.
Products like mobile machinery, children’s toys, lubricating oils, adhesive glue, paper and cardboard, paints, bricks, ceramics, sanitary ware, textile products, electrical batteries, footwear, etc., are regulated by SASO and require a Product Certificate of Conformity for smooth customs clearance in Saudi Arabia.
Shipment Certificate of Conformity
Every shipment imported to Saudi Arabia needs a Shipment Certificate of Conformity for smooth customs clearance. Every Shipment Certificate of Conformity is valid only for that specific shipment.
For all the products in the shipment – regulated or non-regulated by SASO- each shipment must follow SASO guidelines and deliver a Shipment Certificate of Conformity on arrival in Saudi Arabia.
SABER Portal
Understanding the SASO Certificate of Conformity and not knowing about the SABER platform would be a colossal miss. SABER portal is a technology-driven online platform that caters to importers and exporters handling their import/export. The portal bridges the gap between the importer and the third-party Conformity Assessment Bodies. This portal is meant to ease the issuance process of the SABER certificate for the importer/exporter.
As an importer/exporter, you must register your company on the SABER portal. Once the registration is successful, the SABER portal has a list of third-party Certification Bodies that are SASO-notified. One needs to request a company from the list for the SASO Certificate of Conformity for products imported to Saudi Arabia. Once the request is successful, the conformity body will test the sample product for compliance with SASO standards. After satisfactory testing and factory audit, a SASO Certificate of Conformity will be issued for your products on the SABER portal.
The SABER portal has information on the technical regulations specific to every product categorized by SASO and has a guide to inform the importers/exporters about SABER for convenience.
Let VERGER guide you on SASO.
VERGER Group is an ISO-17065 accredited and SASO-notified certification body, listed on the SABER portal, authorized by SASO to issue a SASO Certificate of Conformity for products/shipments imported to Saudi Arabia
We have a dedicated team of auditors and inspectors across the globe that help us streamline the processes involved while issuing the SASO Certificate of Conformity.