SASO is the abbreviation of Saudi Arabian Standards Organization, which is responsible for formulating national standards for all daily necessities and products. These standards also cover measurement systems, labeling, and other aspects.

I. Introduction to the Certification

In fact, many of the SASO standards are based on the safety standards of international organizations such as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Like many other countries, Saudi Arabia has added some unique items to the standards according to its domestic and industrial voltages, geographical and climatic conditions, and ethnic and religious customs. To protect consumers, SASO standards apply not only to products imported from abroad but also to those produced in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Industry and Commerce and SASO require that all products covered by the SASO certification standards must have a SASO certification when entering the Saudi customs. Products without a SASO certificate will be refused entry by the Saudi port customs.

II. Product Scope

SASO certification covers all products used by adults and children in residential, office, or entertainment places, all motor vehicles and their spare parts, and building products. These products can be mainly divided into the following categories:

· Air - conditioners SASO, Batteries SASO, Cosmetics SASO, Toys SASO, Compressors SASO, Fans SASO, Household Electrical Appliances SASO, Electric Wires and Cables SASO, Fax Machines SASO, Lamps SASO, Optical Power Supplies SASO, Elevators SASO, Generators SASO, Office Electronic and Electrical Equipment SASO, Personal Computers SASO, Power Supplies SASO, Auto Parts SASO, Ceramics SASO, Audio - Visual Equipment SASO, Power Amplifiers SASO, Conference Systems SASO, Mixing Consoles SASO.

All cities in Saudi Arabia adopt relatively low voltages, which are divided into two types: 127 volts and 220 volts (235 volts in Riyadh), both at 60 hertz. However, in Mecca and industrial areas, higher voltages are adopted, with two types: 220 volts and 380 volts, also at 60 hertz. Generally, households and offices are equipped with both 110 - volt (i.e., 127 - volt) and 220 - volt electrical sockets for the use of electrical products with different voltages. Generally speaking, air - conditioners and washing machines mostly use 220 volts, and small household appliances mostly use 110 volts.

SASO products can be mainly divided into the following categories:

· Air - conditioners, refrigeration equipment, heating equipment

· Batteries

· Cosmetics

· Toys

· Compressors and fans

· Household electronic and electrical equipment

· Household pressure cookers

· Electric wires and cables

· Fax machines

· Household switches and circuit breakers

· Lamps and lighting equipment

· Elevators and lifting systems

· Engines

· Office electronic and electrical equipment

· Personal computers

· Power supplies

· Telephones

· Motor vehicles and their spare parts

· Building products, coatings, etc.

The main procedures, charging standards, and processing time of SASO certification:

· Calculation method of inspection fee: For FOB value below 60,000 USD, a fixed fee of 1950 RMB is charged; for FOB value between 60,000 USD and 200,000 USD, it is 0.45% x FOB.

· Testing fee: Varies according to products.

· Time: About 3 weeks.

To obtain SASO certification and export products to Saudi Arabia, manufacturers need to follow these steps:

· Apply to a consulting company. The consulting company, based on the product category and in accordance with SASO requirements, will inform the enterprise of the product certification procedures.

· The enterprise submits product samples for testing according to the certification procedures. For some products (such as some motor vehicles and their spare parts), factory inspections are required.

· After the product passes the test, the enterprise obtains the SASO certification. If the product fails the test, the enterprise will receive a detailed report.

· When exporting products to Saudi Arabia, the SASO certification must be presented when the goods enter the customs. The technical personnel of the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization will check the certificate. If the SASO certificate cannot be presented, the product will be refused entry or sampled for testing in the laboratories of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Industry and Commerce or the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization. If the test fails, the product will be refused entry, and all costs will be borne by the exporting enterprise.

III. Certification Forms

· Pre - shipment Compliance Verification: This method is most suitable for exporters or manufacturers with very few shipments. Before each shipment, they need to apply for a pre - shipment inspection (PSI) and a pre - shipment test (PST). If both are qualified, a CoC certificate can be obtained.

· Product Registration: This method is suitable for the vast majority of customers. Its advantage is that although a pre - shipment inspection (PSI) is required for each shipment, a pre - shipment test (PST) is not required for each batch of goods. Customers can obtain a Statement for Registration (SfR) by submitting a compliance statement, providing a test report that complies with the standards of the importing country and relevant international or domestic standards, and stating that the product has met the basic requirements and national differences of the importing country.

· Type Approval Licensing: This method can save the inspection fee or testing fee before each shipment, simplify the repeated application procedures, and ensure the delivery time. Therefore, it is favored by some large companies that ship frequently or have a large scale and attach importance to quality and reputation. The products of exporters or manufacturers can only obtain a Statement for Licence (SfL) if they fully comply with the mandatory standards of the importing and exporting countries. The validity period of this certificate is one year. Before the expiration, an updated factory inspection report needs to be submitted, the annual fee needs to be paid, and after being reviewed by the RLC, it can be renewed. Products with an SfL certificate no longer need to be inspected before each shipment (PSI), and the number of random inspections is reduced to a very small number of times a year (generally 2 - 3 times/year, depending on the product situation).

IV. Precautions

· Testing is carried out according to SASO/PAI standards or IEC standards + national differences. The requirements of SASO/PAI standards need to be considered separately, and there are significant differences in some clauses. The rated voltage in Saudi Arabia is 220V, 50/60Hz (with a BS plug) or 127V, 60Hz (with a UL plug) (a prototype needs to be provided for testing separately); the voltage in Kuwait is 240V, 50Hz (with a BS plug).

· Products prohibited from being exported to Saudi Arabia include: weapons, alcohol, sedatives, pork, pornographic materials, brewing equipment, fireworks, Christmas trees, masks, video phones, toys depicting animals or people, statues, etc.

· Class 0 and Class I electrical products are not allowed. Tropical temperature: + 45℃. The label should be in Arabic; the plug must comply with SASO 2203/2003 (220V) and SASO 2204/2003 (127V).

· Type certification requires a factory inspection.

· For electrical products exported to Saudi Arabia, the rated frequency marked on the product must include 60Hz.

· The user manuals of air - conditioners exported to Saudi Arabia must be in Arabic and English; for audio and video products, the user manuals must be in Arabic.

· The original safety and EMC reports must be reports issued by an accredited laboratory within 2 - 3 years.