SASO Certification

The saso/saber saudi product safety programme (saleem) is a conformity assessment programme developed by the saudi standards, metrology and quality organisation (saso) to ensure the quality and safety of products imported into the kingdom of saudi arabia.
About saso
The saudi standards, metrology and quality organization (saso) is a government body entrusted with all activities related to standards, measurements and quality in the kingdom of saudi arabia.
Saso provides the necessary measures for quality control of raw materials and products, and sets necessary conformity procedures of products based on the verification of quality, legislation and application of the quality mark scheme.
About saso/saber programme
Saudi product safety programme (saleem).
The objective of this programme is to ensure that the quality and safety regulations of saudi arabia are met and that imported products comply with saudi standards and the technical regulations developed by saso; thereby protecting the health and safety of consumers, as well as the environment, from the risk of substandard, counterfeit and potentially dangerous goods.
The saso/saber programme is part of a broader national programme, which aims to set procedures to ensure the safety of local and imported products subject to saudi standards and technical regulation.
Initially, the saso/saber programme was supported only by saber*, an online registration platform through which importers register the product models intended for import, however, as of 1st of july 2020, the shipment process into saudi arabia has now become simpler and faster through the linking of fasah** and saber platforms.

• Saber is an e-platform that connects traders, importers to accredited certification bodies (cb) to get conformity certificates enabling shipment clearance and product compliance as per saudi requirements.
• Fasah is a single window system that facilitates importing and exporting across saudi borders.

About cotecna
Cotecna is authorized by saso to issue a certificate of conformity for exports of regulated products to the kingdom of saudi arabia.
As a leading provider of testing, inspection and certification services, we offer solutions to facilitate trade and make supply chains safer and more efficient for our clients. our technical expertise combined with the superior quality of our services and our ability to anticipate our clients’ needs is what sets us apart.
We partner with governments around the world to control the quality and safety of imported products. through our verification programmes we help protect local businesses, consumers as well as the environment.
Saleem conformity assessment process
exporting to saudi arabia? let us guide you through the saso/saber conformity assessment process, and the steps you need to take to get your goods certified for export.
Cotecna has been accredited by the saudi standards, metrology and quality organisation (saso) saso, in asia, the middle east and north africa regions, to ensure the compliance to the applicable standards of all regulated products imported into the kingdom of saudi arabia.
The saso/saber (saleem) aims to protect the businesses from and ensure that products are free from defects that may affect the health and safety of consumers. it includes a two-stage certification process to export products into the kingdom of saudi arabia:

• Product certificate of conformity (pcoc)
• Shipment certificate of conformity (scoc)

Step-by-step process

• The importer enters his company details on saber platform
• Selection of cotecna as your prefered certification body
• Cotecna accesses the saber platform and checks the requests
• Cotecna guides you on how to register your products on saber platform to obtain your pcoc
• Cotecna helps you to upload of your product documentation on saber platform
• Your dedicated cotecna coordinator will check your documentation and schedule the testing, inspection and /or audit when required
• After satisfactory results, cotecna will issue the product certificate (valid one year)
• Cotecna will issue the shipment certificate for each of your shipments.
• Saudi product certificate of conformity (pcoc)
• Learn more about the specific requirements to obtain your product conformity certificate (pcoc) for exports to saudi arabia.
• As a trusted partner of the saudi arabian government, our mandate as a conformity body includes one or a combination of the following:
• Product verification and documentation review
• Consignment inspection in exporting country
• Sampling and testing of goods in accredited laboratories
• Factory audits
• Delivery of a product certificate of conformity (pcoc) upon technical regulations
• Issuance of a shipment certificate of conformity (scoc)

How to obtain a pcoc
The product certificate of conformity (pcoc) is required to demonstrate that your products have been registered within saber and are complaint with applicable technical regulations. the pcoc is valid for one year upon issuance.
Saso/saber regulated products

• The products covered by the technical regulations are referred to as regulated products. hereafter is an extract of regulated products currently subject to the saudi product safety programme:
• Building materials
• Textile
• Electrical and electronics products
• Chemicals
• Machinery

Regulated products are further categorized as either high-risk or medium-risk based on the product certification scheme. depending on the risk profile of the product in question, additional controls need to be conducted accordingly:

Medium risk products

• Type 1a: product testing / inspection
• High risk products
• Type 3: product testing / factory inspection / audit
• Type 5: product testing / factory inspection / surveillance factory audit.