Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA)     

Established in 2003, the SFDA aims at “Protecting the community through regulations and effective controls to ensure the safety of food, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, pesticides and feed”. What this means is that if a product falls under SFDA’s authority then it needs to meet their regulations such as quality control and packaging. Essentially, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority sets the safety requirements for goods to be imported and sold within the country. 

It runs its own online portal which has many different eservice branches attached to it, depending on whether food or drug is being looked at. In these portals, importers can enter manufacturer information and upload relevant documents which allow SFDA to confirm safety and quality standards and issue a notification number that confirms a certain good/product can be sold in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.   

Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO)

Initiated in 1972, SASO is a regulatory body focused on designing and approving national standards for goods, products, and services. It issues additional regulations and requires further documentation to ensure goods, products, and services are entering the market under approved standards. 

Further, SASO is the issuing authority when it comes to ensuring goods entering or exiting the Kingdom are correctly certified and upto the different relevant standards and regulations. To do this, SASO has implemented the Saber system which aims to accelerate delivery of the required conformity certificates for consumer products. 

Saber

Marketed as “Your gateway to the Saudi market”, Saber is an online portal to register products and easily obtain certificates of conformity. Where SASO issues advice regarding regulations and documentation, Saber is how these things are implemented and checked. After creating a profile, a seller can enter the product they are importing and gain the correct authorizations to quickly pass through customs.  

FASAH

Backed by Saudi customs, FASAH is the online portal used at customs. A retailer will upload documents received by SFDA, SASO and Saber onto their FASAH profile. These will then be seen by officers at customs which will expedite the releasing process.

Chameleon ERP is a business software that optimizes customs clearance and other processes. To learn more, visit https://chameleonerp.com/customsclearance-2/ 

1. Hire the right people 

Sound business advice in general but it’s magnified in customs clearance. A little mistake can cause several days of delays and lots of frustration. The best way to mitigate this risk and ensure a smooth, streamlined process is to be surrounded by knowledgeable, insightful people. Ideally, they would be industrial experts, Arabic speakers, and have solid contacts in customs to make sure they’re always following the latest guidelines.  

2. Keep an updated schedule of fees and penalties

Improvements and developments related to government bodies, ports, and customs clearance mean important factors such as fees, penalties, and terms & conditions are constantly being updated and revised. Make sure to always have an updated schedule as this will affect the client’s quote in terms of costs and delivery times. 

3. Intimately understand process flows and centralize verified documents

Documentation is the backbone of the customs clearance process. From start to finish, progress depends on having the right documents at the right times. Having a clear understanding of the process flows for entities such as SASO will improve your timing for document submission and minimize the risk of delays. Further, you can get an extra jump ahead of the competition by creating a streamlined workflow that includes the collection, verification, and organization of documents, certificates, and reports. 

4. Verify Packaging and help with the physical inspection

Most countries have regulations when it comes to labels and packaging and Saudi Arabia is no different. Each industry within the Kingdom has a different set of requirements which is why it is very important to have industry-based experts who can guide the client and clear cargo faster. The same expert should also help with the physical inspection and guide customs officers with any questions or queries they may have.    

5. Be specific and accurate with product descriptions 

Product descriptions are required throughout the clearance process but especially when entering details through online government portals such as FASAH. Customs agents use the description when conducting the physical inspection and missing or unclear language can delay the process and create unnecessary headaches. To avoid this, write product descriptions that are precise, succinct, and detailed.