SASO (COC Certification)

SASO (COC Certification)

In August, 2004, in order to enter into WTO and fulfill related regulations of WTO agreement, in accordance with No. 213 Resolution of Saudi Arabia Council of Ministers, ICPP which was carried out since 1995 was forbidden. Meanwhile, in accordance with No. 6386 Resolution of Saudi Arabia MOCI, a new scheme of product conformity assessment--Conformity Certification Program, CoCP was approved and took place of ICPP. The new scheme is aimed to safeguard national security of Saudi Arabia, ensure consumers’ safety and health, preserve Islamic religion and morality, protect environment and prevent trade fraud so as to facilitate trade coordination between exporters and importers, guarantee the smooth import procedures and reduce risks for importers caused by products’ incompliance with regulations.
NEW! Saudi Arabia shall enforce energy efficiency labeling requirements.
 

Characteristics of CoCP

•The management and executive department of CoCP is MoCI; SASO, the former regulator of ICCP now is only responsible for the establishment and revision of product technical standards.
•All consumer products including Saudi Arabia’s domestic products are in the regulatory sphere of CoCP. 
•Product classification standard has introduced HS-Codes established by Customs Co-operation Council. The former CVG classification standard shall no longer be used. 
•More and more third-party certification institutes and testing institutes with authorization of the government of Saudi Arabia nowadays provide services related to products regulated by CoCP, including conformity assessment, product registration and issuance of CoC, for instance CVC.

 Main Contents of CoCP

•Products in the category of CoCP must declare their conformity with related Saudi Arabian technical regulations(mandatory standards) and other international standards recognized by Saudi Arabia
•Apart from products regulated by SPS and other exemption products, each batch of products exporting to Saudi Arabia must have CoC before shipment to indicate that these products are in conformity with relevant regulations and standards. Products must get CoC to make sure they have gone through strict testing and inspection of testing institute with certain qualifications and accreditations in the country of origin.
•CoC is the certificate of cargo clearance. If the importer have not gained CoC or have not met related requirements, products shall be denied at the place of delivery and the supplier of products shall bear full responsibility for that.
•When products arrive at the port of Saudi Arabia, the customs of Saudi Arabia may select a small part of samples to conduct testing so as to make sure products are in conformity with CoC.
 

 CoCP Product Category

CoCP Product Category of Compulsory Certification
Toys
•Electrical and electronic products
•Car products 
•Chemical products
•Other products 
For products in the category of compulsory certification, when applying for CoC, they shall be tested by testing laboratory with related accreditations in accordance with relevant Saudi Arabian standards before shipment.
For products which are not in the category of compulsory certification, when applying for CoC, exporters can voluntarily choose whether to entrust accredited testing laboratory to conduct testing or not. However, each batch of products shall be inspected before shipment. Products of this category include stationery, daily vessels, furniture and indoor products.
 

   Notes

•What kind of climate condition should electrical and electronic products meet when exported to Saudi Arabia?
Saudi Arabia is in tropical region. Therefore, especially for some electrical and electronic products, some tests shall be conducted at ambient temperature not lower than 40℃ according to the requirements of tropical hot and humid climate conditions.
•What is the single phase voltage in Saudi Arabia?
There are two specifications of single phase voltage in Saudi Arabia, respectively 127V/60Hz and 220V/60Hz. Exporters of electrical and electronic products shall make sure that the product design and testing meet the above-mentioned requirements. Therefore, if the mark on electrical products shows the voltage scope is 100V,110V,200V and 220V,then these products are all deemed failed.
•What are the EMC requirements for products exported to Saudi Arabia?
•At present, apart from wired and wireless communication devices, there is no EMC requirement against electrical and electronic products in Saudi Arabia.
•What are the requirements of textual description of products exported to Saudi Arabia?
Both Arabic and English shall be used in product marks, descriptions and warnings. Country of origin shall be added in product marks.
•What kind of religious influence exporters should be aware of?
Saudi Arabia believes in Islam, so products exported there shall comply with Islam and its morality.

2.1 Registration 

•Duplicate Application Form for SASO
•Copies of business licenses of the applicant, manufacturer and factory
•Product Specification
•Technical documents, including structure chart, main parts structure chart, complete circuit diagram, components list, plastic parts and internal wires, copies of Safety Certificates of important components, wiring diagram of PCB, components locations chart, nameplate.
•Other required documents

2.2 Inspection

•Application Form of Product Inspection 
•Pro forma invoice
•Copy of whole project test report 
•Product catalogue
•Copy of registration certificate 
•Copy of Letter of Credit(If applicable) 
•Shipping list