• Inspection of imported food coming through the KSA posts.
• Registration of food foreign establishments which export to the KSA.
• Registration of imported food items to the KSA.
• Registration of local importers.
• Licensing imported novel food.
• Inspection of food establishments wishing to export food to the KSA.
• Issuing circulars, instructions and bans on food products issued by the SFDA to the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry to inform stakeholders and importers to enforce them.

Soon

Checkpoints

• Riyadh Dry port
• King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh
• Jeddah Islamic Port Center -North-
• Jeddah Islamic Port -Middle Centre-
• Jeddah Islamic Port -South Centre-
• King Abdulaziz International Airport at Jeddah
• King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam -Refrigerator-
• King Abdul Aziz Port in Dammam
• King Fahd International Airport in Dammam
• Khafji Port
• King Fahd Causeway
• Halat Ammar Port
• Duba
• Haditha Port
• Batha Port
• Salwa Port
• Al-Ghadra
• Twal Port
• Jazan Port

Food inspectors are responsible for performing the following tasks when food consignments arrive at BIPs:

• Documentary Check: all certificates and documents accompanying the consignment are to be checked and their completion to be verified.
• Identity Check: all food items contained in the consignment are in conformity with the accompanying documents.
• Physical Examination: all food items contained in the consignment are in conformity with the technical regulations and standards, and that the labeling requirements are met as laid down by the technical regulations and standards applied to all the representative types of food in the consignment including the inner temperature of the container and the food items.
• Laboratory Testing: if the food inspector has reasons to believe that a laboratory test is needed for a food item, he may refer it to the authorized lab.

Any consignment could be rejected and prevented entry to the Saudi market at any point of the abovementioned stages of inspection. In addition, if a food item does not require a corrective action or no instance of non-compliance is found, the food item is released on the same day and referred to the Customs for final clearance.

* Planned inspection and sampling procedures ( SOON )

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• Service Description:

  Registration of all Foreign Establishment exporting food stuff to the KSA, Local Saudi food Importer and custom brokers.

  Foreign Est.

  • Registration Certificate.(Issued By the Governmental Health Authority)
  • Industrial Certificate.(Issued By Ministry of Industry or Commerce)
• Upload the following documents
  • Saudi Local Importer
    • Commercial Certificate
    • Authentication Letter
  • Saudi Custom Broker
    • Custom License
    • Authentication Letter
• (optional): "No dead-line date for the Foreign Establishment registration

• Service Link
• Service Description: License and the adoption of foreign entity wishing to export to Saudi Arabia.
• Upload the following documents
  • Industrial Register of Foreign Affairs of the facility.
  • Certification from regulatory authorities in the country of foreign entity
  • Quality Certificates:ISO22000 and/or ISO9001 and/or GMP and/or HACCP.

Without prejudice to the general import requirements stipulated in the Saudi Customs, the basic conditions for the importation of food include the following:

• That importers have already created an account with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), and registered their food items.
• Imported food item shall meet all the regulations, requirements, technical regulations and standards applied in KSA.
• Importer must have a Commercial Register, which includes (food trade).
• Original invoice shall be certified from the competent authority in the country of origin.
• One or more of the following certificates (according to the food item) shall be made available:
  • Certificate of origin (Copy).
  • Halal Certificate (original).
  • Certificate of slaughtering for meat and poultry (original).
  • Any other documents or certificates required by the SFDA.

• GSO 2233:2012 Requirements of nutritional labeling.
• GSO 654:1996 General requirements for prepackaged foods for special dietary use.
• GSO CAC / GL 10:2009 Advisory lists of nutrient compounds for use in foods for special dietary uses intended for infants and young children.

The following documents must be presented prior to the importation of a novel food item.

• Reliable scientific evidence authenticated by recognized official bodies to confirm the safety of food for human consumption including: Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI), possible warnings in case of intake by a high risk population and also warnings if a food ingredient has exceeded its Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).
• Reliable information on the criteria upon which the method of use has been based.
• Ingredient analysis results from accredited labs, confirming that the product is fit for human consumption and free from any health hazards.
• A Free Sale Certificate testifying that the product with the very components and ingredients is freely sold in countries which apply Codex standards or EU legislations.
• A pledge of full responsibility towards the product after its entry to the market, and commitment to follow any relevant circulars, standards or regulations that the SFDA officially publish in the future.

The following requirements must be met prior to the importation of GM FOODS:

• The label on GM foods using modern biotechnology, shall indicate that these foods or some of their ingredients are genetically manipulated. All necessary information shall be written on the food label with a clear and easy to read font upper case in both Arabic and English, with a color distinct from that of the label.
• An official certificate issued by the competent authority confirming that GM foods intended for exportation to KSA, are allowed to be used and consumed in the country of origin.
• All GM foods should be in line with the Islamic law (Sharia), and the approved relevant standards.

* (Decision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Decree No. "1666" dated 15/09/1421).

Soon

Breast Milk Substitutes (infant formula and follow-up formula): In addition to the general requirements, BMS must undergo the following specifications:

• Age group: from birth until three years of age (36 months).
• The percentage of milk protein: (11%).
• Percentage of milk fat: (8%).
• Non-flavored, only plain.

• List of general standards for food.
• SASO standard catalogue.
• GSO standard catalogue.
• Codex Alimentarius list of standards.

Approving Foreign Competent Control Authorities

• Adoption of the Process for approving foreign competent control authorities and establishments interested in exporting meat and poultry meat and their products to the Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaPRESS HERE
• THE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR COUNTRY FOOD SAFETY EVALUATIONPRESS HERE
• Guidelines for Inspectors Auditing competent authorities and foreign establishments.PRESS HERE

Countries List

Adoption of the updated process for imposing/lifting a temporary ban related to the import of meat and poultry meat and their products into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia PRESS HERE

Halal Centre

Soon

External Regulators