exporting to saudi arabia: an introduction to saber - 12...saber provides an hs-code search function...
TRANSCRIPT
Exporting to Saudi Arabia: An Introduction to SABER
December 10, 2020Presenter: Kathryn Sharp
Webinar Agenda
What is SASO?
What is a SASO Certificate of Conformity (CoC)?
What is a Saudi Arabia Technical Regulation (TR)?
What is SABER and FASAH?
How SABER Works
Product Registration
PCoC Requirements
Self-Declaration
Shipment Certificate
SABER Exempted Products
SASO Certification with QIMA
What is SASO?
SASO stands for Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization
SASO is the Saudi Arabia government organization responsible for creating standards and technical regulations for products
Most Saudi standards are based on international standards like IEC, but SASO adds some unique aspects to the standards based on local habits, culture, religion and climate for consumer protection
SASO manages the Saudi Product Safety Program called SALEEM
Manages
SALEEM Program
SALEEM guarantees the safety and quality of products entering
the Saudi market
What is a SASO Certificate of Conformity (CoC)?
SASO approved Certification Bodies (CBs) are responsible for approving the issuance of a CoC
There are two types of CoCs:
Type Approval Certificate (Product CoC / PCoC)
Medium- and high-risk products governed by SASO Technical Regulations
require a PCoC.
Non-regulated products require a self-declaration that is done by the importer
directly and does not require the intervention of a CB.
Shipment Certificate of Conformity (Shipment CoC / SCoC)
All products entering Saudi Arabia require an accompanying SCoC to clear
customs, regardless of whether they are regulated or not.
Consignments without a proper SCoC will be rejected by customs.
What is a Saudi Arabia Technical Regulation (TR)?
• Technical Regulations (TR) provide guidance on the technical requirements, testing
methods and documentation required for various products
• Products covered by any Saudi Arabia TR are defined as ‘regulated products’
(other products are defined as ‘non-regulated products’)
• If regulated products are found to be non-compliant, importers and
exporters can face penalties and fines
• Currently SASO has issued 39 TRs
• The full list of approved TRs and those that are pending publication
and approval can be found on the SABER website:
https://saber.sa/home/regulations
What is SABER?
SABER (https://saber.sa) is an online system that was introduced by SASO to operate the SALEEM program
SABER enables exporters, importers and local manufacturers to electronically obtain the required Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) and Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) for their products
SABER was fully implemented in February 2020 – no shipment can enter Saudi Arabia unless it has obtained the required certifications via SABER only
Only importers with a valid Company Registration in Saudi Arabia can become a “Registered User” on SABER
Information Available on SABER
In SABER you can access the following information:
User guide for the SABER platform
List of SASO approved CBs
Full list of TRs
HS-Code search
What is the FASAH Platform?
FASAH (https://www.fasah.sa/) is the Saudi shipment clearance portal used to exchange data electronically between Saudi Customs, ports, airports and private/public operators
On July 1, 2020 SABER was integrated with the FASAH system. During the customs clearance procedure the importer can electronically verify the shipment certificate when issuing the customs declaration through the FASAH platform
If there are no shipment certificates in SABER, products cannot be cleared in FASAH
The SABER Process
Registration for a product/shipment on SABER consists of four main steps
Regulated products (TR has been issued)
Non-regulated products (not included in the technical
regulations)
32
High risk
Mediumrisk
Low risk (free trade)
Account registration in
SABER
Product registration (HS-code, category),
risk level classification by system based on
HS-code
Obtain Shipment Certificate
(SCoC)
1 1. For Non-Regulated ProductsPrepare self-declaration with
document support
2. For Regulated ProductsObtain Type Approval Certificate
(PCoC)
4
2. Product Registration
All products, regardless of whether they are regulated or non-regulated, must be registered in the SABER system
Requirements for adding and registering products:
Customs coordination number (HS Code)
Type of model
Steps to add and register products:
Visit https://saber.sa to access the user guide
1. The establishment contact officer
or establishment delegated
employee logs in to SABER
2. “Add a new product”
through “search by customs
code” or “search by product
classification”
3. Select the item and enter its data, then add product
images
4. Save and add new product
Applicable to non-regulated products only (i.e. products that do not fall under a Technical Regulation)
The self-declaration is completed by the importer in the SABER platform – an approved form must be filled in and submitted
The CB is not needed for self-declaration
If contacted, the CB must convey the message that third-party intervention is not required for self-declaration.
3.1 Self-Declaration
Applicable for regulated products only
Product variations manufactured in the same country with the same HS-Code and model type can be grouped together and registered as one product (i.e. only obtain one PCoC)
Process for PCoC:
3.2 Type Approval Certificate (PCoC) Requirements
1 Select products that have been registered in SABER
2 Select any certification body (CB) from the region of exporting country. CBs have different sets of scope identifying the range of products that they can certify
3 Provide technical documentation (such as test reports, technical specifications, product photos, etc.) to the selected CB. Required documentation varies depending on product type. If using QIMA, send via email to [email protected] or provide when booking in the QIMA client account (ACA) under “SABER Certification”
4 Conformity assessment procedure will be applied as required by the relevant Saudi Arabia Technical Regulation
A Shipment Certificate (SCoC) is required for all consignments of goods arriving in Saudi Arabia
Consignments without a Shipment Certificate will be re-exported
The following information is required to gain approval for Shipment Certificate:
4. Shipment Certificate
5. Barcode
6. Valid Product Certificate for regulated products OR self-declaration for non-regulated products
1. Invoice
2. Packing List
3. Certificate of Origin
4. Bill of Lading
Shipments Certificates for regulated products must be approved by the CB who issued the PCoC in SABER
Shipments Certificates of non-regulated products do not require CB approval in SABER
Recap of the SABER Process
1. SABER Account Registration 2. Product Registration
• Register all products to be imported on the SABER system
3. Self-Declaration or PCoC Request
3.1. Self-Declaration• Submit a self-declaration for each non-
regulated product• Validity: 1 year• SABER cost: Free
4. Shipment Certificate Registration
• Register the importer company
• Request Shipment Certificate for each shipment
• Validity: Per shipment • SABER cost: 500 SAR (USD $133)+VAT
(COVID special price is 350 SAR+VAT)• Timing: QIMA Approval TAT 24 hours
OR 3.2. Type Approval Certificate (PCoC)• Request PCoC for each regulated product• Validity: 1 year• SABER cost: 500 SAR (USD $133)+VAT• QIMA cost: CB technical review fee 2000
SAR (USD $532)• Timing: QIMA Approval TAT 5 Days
SABER Exempted Products
The following products are NOT subject to registration on SABER:
Note: These products may be subject to other registration processes or regulations (by the Ministry of Interior or SFDA) that are outside of QIMA’s scope
Medical devices
Cosmetics
Cars and motorbikes
Non-consumer products
Raw materials used in manufacturing products
Military equipment, such as weapons and firearms
Industrial equipment
Medicines
Agricultural products
Food
How Can You Know if Your Product Is Regulated or Not?
SABER provides an HS-Code search function so you can determine if your product is regulated
Search by HS-Code If no result is returned from the 12-digit HS-Code, try entering the first
8, 6 or 4 digits of the HS-Code
Search by product descriptionThe English description is
translated from Arabic so you may have to search different keywords
with the same meaning
OR
Visit https://saber.sa/home/hscodes or https://www.customs.gov.sa/en/customsTariffSearch#3920
How QIMA Can Help
As a SASO-approved Certification Body (CB) QIMA can:
Perform the conformity assessment and approve PCoC for regulated products on SABERReview shipment detail and approve SCoC on SABER
QIMA can also support the following value-added services:
SABER account management (account registration; registering a product; creating a request for a PCoC)SABER product registration only management (self-declaration or creating a request for a PCoC using a non-QIMA CB)PCoC and SCoC SADAD fee facilitation (helping to settle the SABER system invoices)SABER shipment registration management (creating a request for Shipment CoC or Shipment Exemption Request)
Geographic Scope
QIMA is SASO-approved CB for products exported from:
Asia and AustraliaEuropeNorth & South AmericaMiddle East & North African countries
SASO Certification for a Wide Variety of Products
We offer Product Certificates of Conformity for the following product categories:
• Sanitary ware, tiles, bricks, blocks & related products
• Insulation and cladding material for walls, ceilings and floors
• Plastic pipes and metal pipes used in electrical wiring systems and water in buildings and fittings
• Doors windows, glass and accessories
• Adhesives (incl. adhesive tapes, glues, and similar products)
• Machinery used in the food industry
• Portable machinery and equipment
• Pressure devices and accessories
• Firefighting equipment, sprinkler systems, and similar products
• Radio and telecommunication terminal equipment
• Low-voltage appliances and electrical equipment
• Shoes• Textile• Personal protective clothing
and equipment• Jewelry• Detergents• Lubricating oil• Paints, dyes and varnishes• Tissue paper products and
related products• Electrical batteries• Auto spare parts• Scooters
CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS
MACHINERY, DEVICES & EQUIPMENT
CHEMICAL PRODUCTS
OTHER
SCOPE• QIMA Asia: https://saber.sa/Home/Details/1186• QIMA USA: https://saber.sa/Home/Details/1188• QIMA Middle East: https://saber.sa/Home/Details/1189• QIMA Europe: https://saber.sa/Home/Details/1185
General Document Requirements
1. Certification Application Form
2. Supplier Declaration of Conformity
3. Product pictures with: • Clear trademark• Country of origin• Model number
4. Manufacturer business license
5. Test report issued • Within 3 years (usually only accept 1
year, but during COVID 19 SASO will accept 3 years validation)
• English version• CNAS & ISO 17025 Cert (certification
page and the accredited scope under their certification)
• Barcode• Product name for
each model type
6. ISO Certificate or other required certificates, if anye.g. ISO 9001, ISO 14001, IATF 16949 etc.
7. Factory audit report (FA report)• Required if the TR was under Type 3
or Type 5 Certification • BSCI FA report is not acceptable• ISO9001 cannot replace the FA report
8. Bill of Materials (BOM) • Material list for food contact articles /
jewelry products / footwear• Fiber contents for textiles products
General Document Requirements for Electrical Products or Machinery
1. Certification Application Form
2. Supplier Declaration of Conformity
3. Product pictures with: • Clear trademark • Country of origin • Model number• Barcode• Product name for
each model type
4. Manufacturer business license
5. Test report issued • Within 3 years (usually only accept 1 year, but
during COVID 19 SASO will accept 3 years validation)
• English version• CNAS & ISO 17025 Cert (certification page and
the accredited scope under their certification)
• Rating label• Product image with
plug pictures• Energy Efficiency
Ratio (EER) label
6. ISO Certificate or other required certificates, if anye.g. ISO 9001, ISO 14001, IATF 16949 etc.
7. Factory audit report (FA report)• Required if the TR was under Type 3 or
Type 5 Certification • BSCI FA report is not acceptable• ISO9001 cannot replace the FA report
8. Exploded Diagram / Circuit Diagram
9. Product Specification or drawings as applicable
10. User/Instruction Manual (notification / product introduction / use method)
11. IECEE / EER / CITC Certificate as applicable
General Documents Requirement for Building Materials
1. Certification Application Form
2. Supplier Declaration of Conformity
3. Product pictures with: • Clear trademark • Country of origin • Model number
4. Manufacturer business license
5. Test report issued • Within 3 years (usually only accept 1 year, but
during COVID 19 SASO will accept 3 years validation)
• English version• CNAS & ISO 17025 Cert (certification page and
the accredited scope under their certification)
6. ISO Certificate or other required certificates, if anye.g. ISO 9001, ISO 14001, IATF 16949 etc.
• Barcode• Product name for
each model type
7. Factory audit report (FA report)• Required if the TR was under Type 3 or
Type 5 Certification • BSCI FA report is not acceptable• ISO9001 cannot replace the FA report
8. Information regarding the end use of the product (function/assembly place)
9. Materials
10. Water Rationalization Certificate (WCL) • If the product was under Water
Rationalization Tools scope (e.g. faucet, shower head, shattaf etc.)
• WCL Certificate • WCL Label • Package pictures with WCL Label on it
Example: BOM List ReviewPurpose:
Determine the materials for each part of product e.g. food contact – thermos cup
Cross check with test report to see if all directly food-contact parts of the product have been tested properly
Material list should contain the material chemical descriptions (i.e. silicon and not soft plastics)
The list should enable clear identification of every component
Name of each component
Example: Product Label review
Purpose:
Determine if the actual product was the same as the tested sample
Determine if the product information was consistent with the SABER platform
Product pictures with:
1. Clear trademark, if applicable2. Country of origin 3. Model number4. Barcode5. Product name for each model
type6. Other labeling as required by
the TR(e.g. Food Grade Label)
Example: Test Report review
Purpose:
To ensure the actual product passes test requirement in terms of SASO TechnicalRegulation
To fulfill mandatory SASO requirement
Verify details:
Date (out of date or not)
Test standard
Manufacturer/application name (match with SABER or not)
Testing lab accreditation
If this lab owns CNAS & ISO 17025 certificate (https://las.cnas.org.cn)
If the test standard is under the lab testing scope
How Can You Know if Your Product Is Regulated or Not?
You can find the different descriptions in HS Code Web
Non-Regulated PCoC
Regulated PCoC(has certain TR)