Countries have recently begun to review standards for goods entering ports. These are the certificates of conformity from different countries. Saudi Arabia is one of the most important export markets for Indian rice. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), the quality regulatory authority in Saudi Arabia, has stipulated since September 1, 2019 that every mail shipment is accompanied by a CoC. So as an exporter, you need to know this.

Certificate of Conformity (CoC) is a document issued to the exporter informing  that the supplied products meet the required standards. In layman`s terms, this document is the passport of your shipped goods, this document is usually necessary for the customs clearance of your goods..

Many countries issue specific standards to maintain the quality of products imported into the market. This process is being done to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their citizens and some countries insist that  products are checked before export to meet standards.

Traditionally, governments controlled goods at the port of entry. However, this could lead to a massive monetary loss for the exporter due to delays as they would have already paid for the freight and goods. Therefore, this practice started before the goods were shipped.

The Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO) certificate is a necessary document for customs clearance when exporting to Saudi Arabia. SASO CoC (Saudi Arabia Certificate of Conformity) certifies that products have been tested and verified to meet the requirements of  SASO standards. However, once the item reaches the Saudi market, the products may undergo additional checks required by customs officials.

Obtaining a SASO certificate can take months or even longer. There are several independent agencies that can provide you with a SASO CoC. However, you will need the following before beginning the application process:

• Commercial invoice signed and stamped on company letterhead, duly postmarked by the local Chamber of Commerce
• Certificate of origin from the local Chamber of Commerce to verify the country of origin of the goods you want to export

As soon as these things have been purchased, you must send them to the agency with a SASO CoC. These, in turn,  inform what tests and inspections are required for  certification.

If you regularly export to Saudi Arabia, you must register your products with the supplier SASO CoC. Accelerate your product testing process. One of your two programs may be in the testing phase.

One should also know that the inspection bodies in Saudi Arabia must be approved and recognized. So people take note of it, no matter how good  your products are, if you don't provide the SASO CoC, you won't be able to export to Saudi Arabia.

 The procedure for requesting a certificate of conformity consists of  the following phases:

• During the production phase, the exporter must request a certified body such as Intertek or SGS or an accredited laboratory to test the products according to SASO standards. A certified body is a certification body accredited by an official member of the accreditation body  in the relevant international organizations.
•  An accredited laboratory is a laboratory that has been accredited by a member of an accreditation body of the relevant international organizations. The certified body and the accredited laboratory are authorized to issue the certificate of conformity.
•  The shipment will be subjected to laboratory testing and analysis in accordance with the relevant technical regulations or standards for this product.
•  The manufacturing process is subject to an audit.
•  Documentation verification is in progress.

An assessment is carried out to ensure compliance with applicable rules and regulations.

Once the shipment has been dispatched, the certificate of conformity is issued by the certified body in the  country of origin of the product. It must accompany the shipment when it is shipped to Saudi Arabia. Each shipment must have its own certificate of conformity. Two shipments cannot use the same certificate of conformity. The certificate of conformity is only valid for a certain period of time and the expiration date is indicated on it.

All merchandise must also have a non-removable indication of origin. If the notice is not on them, it will be withheld until the importer fixes the problem or ensures that the matter will not occur again. A fine may be imposed or the goods may be sent back to the country of origin. The SASO quality mark, confirming that the products meet Saudi standards.

 Application fees: There are fees for the application process. They are as follows:

• Fees for receiving and verifying the forms prepared by SASO from the factory that manufactures the product or an agency that sells it.
• All costs associated with visits by technicians and inspectors to operational areas  for inspection.
• Expenses related to the transportation and inspection of the samples from the factory, agency or market to the accredited laboratory.
• Costs of examination and analysis of samples in the laboratory.
• Fee for issuing additional copies of the Certificate of Conformity in English or Arabic.