Customs Alert: Requirement to obtain a national certificate of conformity for electro-technical equipment in KSA

The Saudi Organization for Standardization, Metrology and Quality (SASO) released a statement on 10 March 2021 announcing that, commencing 1 July 2021, suppliers and manufacturers will be required to obtain a national certificate of conformity (IECEE*) for electro-technical equipment and components in order that the products can enter and be traded in the Kingdom. This decision will apply to:

• electrical cooking utensils such as (water boilers, all coffee-making devices of all kinds),
• electric oil fryers,
• electric pumps with a capacity of 5 horsepower or less for all uses,
• electric power cables, and
• games devices and their accessories such as video games equipment, controllers, wireless headsets, chargers, and their accessories.

SASO clarified that the requirement to obtain an IECEE certificate for these products aims to control the market for high-risk electrical products and to protect consumers from lower quality or fake devices. This decision will reduce accidents caused by faulty products and will facilitate the entry of goods through customs ports without repeated examination and testing.

For more information on this topic or to learn more about KPMG’s Trade & Customs Services in the Middle East, kindly contact our Trade & Customs team at KPMG.

*IECEE is a document issued by SASO to prove that the products conform with international safety standards. This depends on a report and a test certificate issued by a laboratory and a granting body accredited by the conformity assessment programs taking into account national differences.