Selling to KSA: PCA Update on Food and Drug Regulations

Exporters to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) need to be informed about changes to current standards as regulated by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). In this article, we look at important updates to certification requirements.

With effect from January 1, 2020, KSA requires that all consignments of regulated food products exported to the country comply with Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) technical regulations and Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO)/Saudi Standards, Quality and Metrology Organization (SASO) standards through SFDA approved certification bodies like SGS.

As an SFDA approved Certification Body, we can issue a certificate of conformity (CoC) before the shipment of goods, to confirm compliance and ensure clearance of your consignments at Saudi ports and borders.

Trusted Certification from an SFDA Approved Certification Body

We have been assisting SFDA with its cosmetic certification program for several years. As a reliable partner, SFDA has chosen SGS as an approved Certification Body for the food program.

We provide extensive expertise and experience, managing conformity assessment programs around the world. As a result, we offer you efficient, comprehensive and tailored solutions to ensure your shipments meet all applicable requirements.

Recent Changes

• SFDA Establishment registration is mandatory for establishments exporting meats, fishery products, chicken, meats and honey products.
• A Certificate of Conformity (CoC) becomes mandatory for:
  • Fresh fruit and vegetables from countries like Egypt, Jordan and India. A test report needs to be attached along with the CoC
  • Tea and tea products from Sri Lanka
  • Meat from Sudanese cows and sheep
  • Egyptian vegetables, frozen and processed fruit, milk and milk products from approved entities only

Why do you need a Certificate of Conformity?

A CoC from SGS is required for smooth customs clearance of the consignment at destination ports and borders, and to ensure compliance with SFDA technical regulations and GSO/SFDA standards.

Who can apply?

Exporters and manufacturers of the product consignments can apply to the nearest SGS office for more information, and to initiate the application.

What are the requirements for CoC?

• SFDA product registration
• Establishment registration (if applicable)
• Label compliance
• Manufacturer’s quality management system (QMS) 
• Ingredient list and internal Certificate of Analysis
• Test reports from an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited lab

Certification Process

1. Application by exporter to the SGS office
2. Document review and evaluation
3. Sampling and testing
4. Inspection
5. Issuance of CoC

Learn more about Saudi Arabia – SFDA Certificate of Conformity.

This article can also be found in our PCA Newsletter (Q3/2022) – which keeps you up to date with developments in technical barriers to trade and product conformity assessment.

Read more in our PCA Newsletter

Q3/2022

• Pre-Shipment Verification Update for Kenya
• Major information on VOC for Ivory Coast
• Trade and Certification: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Q2/2022

• Updates to SGS’s Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity Program for the Central African Republic
• Understanding South Sudan’s New Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) Program
• New Developments in Uganda’s PVoC Program
• Pre-shipment Verification of Conformity for Tanzania

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For more information, please contact:

Sithara Hatim
Certification Center Manager
Trade Facilitation Services, SGS
t: +971 56 686 8989