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The US Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), in a Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) Report dated December 8, 2013, reports that in November 2013, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) posted on its webpage a notice stating that it will fully implement a mandatory electronic customs clearance system (E-Clearance) for all food products imported into the Kingdom starting on January 1, 2014. It is the FAS’ understanding that this procedure includes prepackaged food products as well as raw materials, The SFDA has indicated that it will not process any customs clearance requests after January 1st unless it is submitted through the E-Clearance system. Saudi Arabia has not formally notified its trading partners of the new E-Clearance requirements of food imports.
The SFDA has been working on the preparation of the new E-Clearance system since June 2011, and has asked all importers of food products to register in its E-Service website. The registration of imported food items is the responsibility of the local importers. Each importer is required to open an E-Account and set up individual user name and password. Once the E-Account is created, the importers can upload their food products information, including harmonized code (HS Code), bar code, item code, and listed ingredients in English and Arabic as well as copy of the product labels. The product label must contain all information required by the Gulf Standard regulation № GSO 9 “Labeling of Prepackaged Food Stuffs”. Importers are also required to register coordinates of their warehouses, name of authorized contact persons to deal with SFDA, including customs brokers contracted in each Saudi port of entry. Importers are required to register all food products they intend to import, even if the products they bring have been already registered by another importer. The electronic registration with the SFDA is free of charge and there is no expiry date for the registration. Importers, however, are required to re-register their products when there are changes in products formulations or labels. According to FAS trade contacts, the registration process seems to be simple and can be quickly completed if needed information is readily available and required documents are uploaded. |
