Saudi market offers unlimited business opportunities in a wide range of industries. Well prepared and perfectly updated, Swiss companies can take advantage of the changing and challenging Saudi Arabia. Larbi Elattari
Introduction of SABER
Enforced on January 1, 2019, SABER is a comprehensive system introduced by SASO and has replaced the old system for issuing SASO Certificate of Conformity (CoC) for goods exported to Saudi Arabia. SABER platform aims at facilitating and accelerating procedures for the entrance of goods into the Saudi market in coordination with the Saudi Customs.
To reducing the period of clearing shipments at Saudi entry points and ensure correct documentation, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) and Saudi Customs have recently announced the integration of the FASAH (clearance, the Saudi shipment clearance portal) system and SABER platform. As per July 1st, 2020, the integration of both platforms enables beneficiaries automatically verifying the consignment conformity certificate when obtaining the customs declaration. Since 1st July, there will be no need for companies to print the SCoC as it will automatically be in the FASAH system. Any shipment to Saudi Arabia that does not have a SCoC will be refused at destination and re-exported at the cost of the importer (who may charges the cost to the exporter/manufacturer).
Barcode on the packaging necessary
As per January 1, 2020, all products exported to the Saudi market must display barcodes on the packaging. The barcode consists of 13 digits to be scanned. Barcode can be printed on the outer box or printed on stickers on the outer box. The barcode compilation rules are set by the factory, and can be made according to the product type or according to the series products. According to SASO’s regulations, not only SABER certification is required but also a SABER barcode on the outer packaging.
Affected products
SASO has updated the affected product groups. Click on the link below to check which product groups are already subject to the regulations now and in the near future.
LOOK UP AFFECTED PRODUCT GROUPS HERE
The linked website is available in English, unfortunately this is not always the case for the specific documents. We are happy to support you with our local representation. We also recommend that you check the website regularly, as it is constantly updated.
Frequently asked questions
What are Saber & FASAH platforms?
- Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) has announced the launch of SABER electronic platform, which aims to register and issue conformity assessment certificates for products before entering the Saudi market. SABER platform ensures the imported goods conformity to standards and specifications before entering the Saudi market. SABER platform aims at facilitating and accelerating procedures for the entrance of goods into the Saudi market in coordination with the Saudi Customs. Through SABER platform helps beneficiaries to issuing conformity assessment certificates electronically and easily.
- FASAH (clearance, the Saudi shipment clearance portal) is an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) System that will be used to exchange data electronically between Saudi Customs, ports, airports and private and public operators.
What are the products that should be registered on SABER?
As per January 2021, all regulated and non-regulated products, whether imported or manufactured locally. However to clear the regulated products, the issuance of the Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is required. PCoC demonstrates that the imported products have been registered within SABER and are compliant with applicable SASO’s Technical Regulations.
The Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) that is requested for all imported products cannot be obtained for regulated ones unless their PCoC has first been completed.
Who must register on SABER?
All importers/manufacturers with Saudi commercial register as well as the local manufacturers.
Are there any fees to open an account on the Saber platform?
No, there is no subscription fee to the Saber portal.
Who is the communication officer?
The employee who is appointed by the company to grant him access to the system, add products and request certificates. An unlimited number of communication officers can be added.
Is there any other authority that provides the certificate of conformity to the Saudi specifications whether in Saudi Arabia or abroad?
Yes, there are conformity assessment authorities (certification Bodies, CB) accepted by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) and authorised to issue conformity certificates for products.
Which conformity assessment authorities are accepted by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization?
The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization provides a list of the accredited entities. The list is available of SASO’s website or through the Saber platform.
Can I get the product certificate of conformity assessment from authorities outside Saudi Arabia?
Yes, as long as this authority is among the accredited authorities by the Saudi Organization for Standardization, Metrology and Quality.
Is SABER the only electronic platform to register and issue the certificates of conformity?
Yes, all conformity certificates registration procedures are fully electronic through the SABER platform.
What information / documents are required to obtain the certificate of conformity?
Documents and information required to obtain a product conformance certificate depend on the products and their severity. Further details about product technical regulations are available are available on the link.
What falls on the supplier or trader who does not get a certificate of conformity?
Not registering the consignment conformance certificate on the saber platform will prevent the products from entering the Saudi market and will be fined by the competent authorities.
Are there any fees to issue a certificate of conformity?
The cost of registering conformity certificates through the platform is 500 SR per certificate except for the equivalent certificates issued by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) which are free. It is worth mentioning that the paid fees of a certificate of conformity cannot be refunded after payment.
The cost of registering conformity certificates through the platform is 500 SR per certificate except for the equivalent certificates issued by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) which are free.
If the certificate of conformity has been issued for a product manufactured in the country “A”, can the trader use the same certificate for the same product but is manufactured in another country?
No. the Certificate (PCoC) is used only for the registered product made in the country “A”.
How can companies that import tens of thousands of spare parts facilitate their procedures on Saber?
There will be account managers from Saber electronic platform to facilitate the addition of products to major local importers/manufacturers.
How will the SABER system affect manufacturers?
The implementation of the SABER system will shift the responsibility for arranging the customs clearance of the imported goods. As per SABER, the registration is the responsibility of the importing company based in Saudi Arabia that has to register the company, the products to be imported and the consignment on Saber platform.
Do products imported into Saudi Arabia that are not intended for sale or trade also have to be registered on SABER?
There is no product or company that is excluded from being registered on SABER. If the products are not intended for sale or trade in Saudi Arabia, the so-called Exemption Platform must be used.
The document "Guidelines for the Exemption Portal" in the download area below explains the Exemption Platform. This platform helps to submit an exemption request for imported personal shipments that not intended for sale or trade, in order to obtain a shipment certificate such as shipments that are imported by individuals for the purpose of construction or restoration as well as shipments of raw materials products or factory equipment’s used in production lines ,and shipments that are supplied to a government agency according to a purchase contract.
Step-by-step guide to saber
Download the step-by-step guide below and learn all about the certification process and the registration for the importer on the SABER platform.
