Certificate from the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization

SABER System

SABER is a platform that allows importers and local manufacturers to electronically obtain the required Certificate of Conformity and Certificate of Shipment Conformity for consumer goods, whether they were 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 manufacturers can request a Certificate of Conformity (both Product and Shipment Certificates 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

The risk level of a 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 regulations are classified as low-risk items.

Product Registration

• The importer inputs details of the product into SABER

• The SABER system verifies if the product is regulated or not based on HS code or product category

Type Approval Certificate (Product Certificate of Conformity)

• Scope: Products that are regulated by Saudi Arabia TR. Click here for a list of technical regulations. 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.

• Validity: One year

• Required documents:

  • Conformity documents such as test reports, quality certificates, risk assessment reports, inspection report etc., if applicable

  • Design, dimensions, plans, specification photo of the products, if applicable

The Type Approval Certificate will be issued through the SABER system after compliance to relevant standards is proven and after approval by SASO Approved Conformity Assessment Body.

Shipment Certificate of Conformity

• Scope: All products

• Validity: Per consignment

• Required documents:

  • Type Approval Certificate or self-declaration

  • Shipment document, such as invoice, packing list, bill of lading etc.

A Shipment Certificate is required for each consignment. Issuance of Shipment Certificates for shipments of non-regulated products and regulated products are done through SABER.

On July 1, 2020 the SABER platform was linked with the FASAH system. This integration ensures the automatic verification of Shipment Certificates – there is no need to print a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) as it will automatically be in the FASAH system. Any shipment to Saudi Arabia that does not have an SCoC will be required to be re-exported.

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