Introduction

The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) is a technical government body in Saudi Arabia was established in 1972 and governs tasks related to standards, metrology and quality. SASO is administrated by a board of directors headed by the Minister of Commerce and Investment and membership of sectors interested in standardization in the Kingdom.The responsibilities of SASO is mainly focusing on designing and approving national standards for goods, products and services. Its tasks also include the Issuance of regulations that ensure the assessment procedures of goods, products, and services under approved standards. Promoting awareness regarding standards and quality, conducting studies and research are also involved with the responsibilities of SASO.The responsibilities of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization are determined according to the statute of SASO, which was issued by the Royal Decree No. M / 10 dated 3/3/1392 H, and according to the resolutions, issued by WTO which assigned some tasks to SASO.

The SASO/SABER (SALEEM) aims to protect the businesses from fraud and ensure that products are free from defects that may affect the health and safety of consumers.

It includes a two-stage certification process to export products into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:

•   1. Product Certificate of Conformity (PCOC)
•   2. Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCOC)

Product Conformity Certificate (PCOC)

Fusion Compliance Services help includes one or a combination of the following:

•  Product verification and documentation review
•   Consignment Inspection in exporting country
•   Sampling and testing of goods in accredited laboratories
•   Factory audits
•   Delivery of a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCOC) upon Technical Regulations

How to obtain a PCOC

The Product Certificate of Conformity (PCOC) is required to demonstrate that your products have been registered within SABER and are complaint with applicable Technical Regulations. The PCOC is valid for one year upon issuance.

It is the importer’s responsibility to initiate the process of obtaining a PCOC, which comprises the following steps:

SASO/SABER Regulated Products

The products covered by the Technical Regulations are referred to as Regulated Products. Hereafter is an extract of regulated products currently subject to the Saudi Product Safety Programme:

•  Building materials
•   Textile
•   Electrical and electronics products
•   Chemicals
•   Machinery

Regulated Products are further categorized as either high-risk or medium-risk based on the Product Certification Scheme.

Depending on the risk profile of the product in question, additional controls need to be conducted accordingly:

Medium Risk Products

Type 1: Product testing / inspection

High Risk Products

Type 3: Product testing / factory inspection / audit

Type 5: Product testing / factory inspection / surveillance factory audit

Shipment Conformity Certificate (SCOC)

Fusion Compliance Services help includes one or a combination of the following:

•  Product verification and documentation review
•   Consignment Inspection in exporting country
•   Sampling and testing of goods in accredited laboratories
•   Factory audits
•   Delivery of a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCOC) upon Technical Regulations
•   Issuance of a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCOC)

How to obtain a SCOC

The Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCOC) cannot be obtained if the PCOC registration has not first been completed. However, an SCOC is required for Customs clearance for each shipment.

It is the importer’s responsibility to initiate the process of obtaining an SCOC, which involves the following steps:

SASO Approved Technical Regulations

QIMA is able to approve Product Certificates of Conformity for a number of product categories. The table below contains details on these SASO approved Technical Regulations, their scope and type of approval.

A note on approval types: Approval types 1a, 3 and 5 refer to the assessment types defined in ISO/IEC 17067. Different conformity assessment activities are required for each type as applicable:

Type 1a: Product testing / inspection

Type 3: Product testing / factory inspection / audit

Type 5: Product testing / factory inspection / surveillance factory audit

Technical Regulation	Scope	Approval Type
BD-142004-01 and TC-143307-01 Technical Regulation for Low-Voltage Electrical Equipment and Appliances	Certain electrical and electronic devices (AC 50-1000V or DC 75-1500V)	1a
M.A.-155-16-03-01 Technical Regulation for Lubricating Oil	Lubricating oil for various uses   Used refined or recycled oils as essential oils in the composition of lubricating oils   Brake fluid, automatic transmission fluid	3
M.A.-156-16-04-02 Technical Regulation for Building Materials - Part II: Insulating and Cladding Materials for Buildings	Insulation and cladding material	3
M.A.-161-17-07-03 Technical Regulations for Building Materials - Part IV Bricks, Tiles, Ceramics, Sanitary Ware and Related Products	Bricks, tiles, marble and stone, sanitary ware and related products   Does not include cement tile and brick   Ceramic products   Notes: Saudi Quality Mark required	3 5
M.A.-155-16-03-03 Technical Regulation for Paints (Dyes) and Varnishes	Emulsion paints, oil paints and varnishes for use in residential and commercial buildings, and public utilities	3
M.A.-155-06-03-04 Technical Regulation for Electric Self-Balancing Boards (Scooter)	Electric self-balancing plates (scooters)	3
M.A.-166-18-04-02 Technical Regulations for Electrical Batteries	Car batteries  Portable batteries, such as button cells, weighing less than 1kg  Exclude batteries for military, medical devices, and aeronautical industry	3
M.A.-162-17-04-02 Technical Regulations for Auto Spare Parts*	New original spare parts that are used for motor vehicles, such as seat belts, motor vehicle glass, vehicle lamps  Importer is approved licensed distributors for the spare part manufacturer of the new original spare parts  New commercial spare parts  Importer is any other suppliers	1a 3
M.A.-165-18-04-04 Technical Regulations for Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment	Equipment and clothing designed to protect the health and safety of its user against potential hazards  Excludes medical equipment and protective clothing for medical or military uses	3
M.A.-164-18-05-02 Technical Regulation of Textile Products*	Products that contain at least 80% by weight of textile component that are not children’s product or underwear  Children’s product or underwear	1a 3
M.A.-155-16-03-02 Technical Regulations for Electrical Batteries	Detergents, surfactant and soap  Unpackaged detergents that are supplied in large containers for the purpose of refill and repackaging	3
Technical Regulations for Adhesives and Related ProductsAdhesives and glue products (for example, structural adhesives, adhesives for leather, footwear, wood products, paper, packaging)	Adhesives and glue products (for example, structural adhesives, adhesives for leather, footwear, wood products, paper, packaging)	1a
Technical Regulations for Jewelry Decoration and Accessories	Jewelry and accessories made of metals, plastics, glass or valuable material  Tiny beads used in the accessories	1a
E.M. 171-19-06-02 Technical Regulations for Building Materials Part 5: Pipes for Water, Electricity and Gas Networks	Plastic and metal pipe system used in transport of water and electrical installations in building and accessories	3
Technical Regulations for Telecommunications Devices	Wireless communication devices (for example, mobile phones, headsets, smart devices)	1a
Technical Regulations for Packaging	Packaging products: paper, cardboard, wood, plastics, textile, and any other materials used in packaging	1a
E.M. 171-19-06-04 Technical Regulations for Food Safety in Kitchen Appliances	Materials and surfaces in contact with food (for example, cooking equipment, tableware, food packaging materials and containers)	3
Technical Regulations for Shoes and Leather	Footwear made of leather, textile, plastic or a mixture of these materials	1a
Technical Regulations for Pressure Devices and Equipment and their Accessories	Devices operating under pressure and their accessories (for example, fire extinguishers, pressure cookers)	1a
M.A.-172-19-04-02 Technical Regulations for Firefighting Equipment and Materials	Products for firefighting (for example, fire extinguisher, alarm systems, fire hoses	3
Technical Regulations for Doors and Windows	Doors and windows made of plastics, wood, glass or metal  Accessories for doors and windows  Warehouse doors, armored doors, fire-proof doors	1a
Technical Regulations for Machinery Safety – Part 1: Portable and Oriented Machines	Portable machines  Cutting and sawing machines  Cranes  Mobile machines used in general construction  Drilling machines	1a

*Textile Products & Auto Spare Parts are subject to a Categorized Conformity Assessment which enables similar products to be grouped together covered by a single PCoC. This effectively reduces the number of PCoCs required for importing products into Saudi Arabia and streamlines the certification process.