Saudi Food and Drug Authority the Need for Food Safety and Quality in Saudi Arabia. Food safety is assured by SFDA to make food products safe for consumption. All varieties of food products destined for Saudi Arabian markets must receive certification from SFDA if they are going to be sold and used there.
Testing Equipments
Testing Reports
Certification Served
The following types of organizations are eligible to receive the SFDA food certificate.
1. Local food manufacturers: Manufacturers from India who wants to export their food items to Saudi markets must meet compliance with SFDA.
2. International Food Manufacturers: Manufacturers outside of India who wants to export their food items to Saudi markets must meet compliance with SFDA.
3. Importers and Distributors: The importers and distributors of Saudi Arabia, who wants to sell the Indian products in Saudi Markets must also follows SFDA guidelines and apply for SFDA Certification for the products.
4. Retailers and Wholesalers: Retailers and Wholesalers are also liable to check whether the products they are selling follows the SFDA guideline or not.
5. Private Label Brands: Private labels should be given an assurance that the food they are packaging or selling is SFDA compliant.
6. Food Processors and Packagers: Every food modification and packaging should be SFDA compliant.
7. Exporters: SFDA certification is required to export as an assurance that all food coming out of the country is safe for consumption.
These documents will be needed for food products to comply with SFDA safety, quality, and labelling standards.
Step 1: Initial Consultation
The product shall first be presented for our team’s consultation and documentation.
Step 2: Documentation Preparation
Preparing the complete documentation needed for SFDA Application.
Step 3: Online Application
Submitting the online application with proper documents and making payment of the concerned notified bodies and government fees.
Step 4: SFDA Review Process
Scrutiny of the application and the documents by SFDA Authorities.
Step 5: Facility Inspection (if necessary)
SFDA will visit the premises and inspect them against the regulatory compliance standards.
Step 6: Certification Issue
Upon satisfactory review and inspection by SFDA and Upon acceptance, SFDA shall issue food certification, thus allowing your product to be sold in the Saudi market.
1. Processed and Packaged Foods: Canned and Preserved Foods such as canned fruits, vegetable meat, and seafood, Snacks and Confectionery such as chips, chocolates, candies, and other snack products, Ready-to-Eat Meals are packaged or processed meals that are almost ready for consumption through minimal preparation and Frozen Foods comprise frozen meals, vegetables, fruits, and frozen desserts.
2. Beverages: Like Non-Alcoholic Beverages include juices, soft drinks, bottled water, energy drinks, and flavoured drinks, Beverage Products instant coffee, tea bags, flavoured teas, Dairy Drinks flavoured milk, lassi, and yoghurt-based drinks.
3. Dairy: like Dairy Milk and Cream pasteurized, UHT, sterilized milk, Cheese hard cheese, soft cheese, processed cheese, cheese spreads, yoghurt and Fermented Dairy yoghurt, kefir, sour cream, etc, Butter and Dairy Fats butter, ghee, etc.
4. Bakery Products: Such as packaged or fresh bread, buns, and rolls, Cakes and Pastries, packaged cakes, pies, muffins, and pastries. sweet and savoury packaged biscuits and crackers.
5. Meat and Poultry: Products like fresh, frozen, or processed meat (beef, lamb, goat), chicken, turkey, and other poultry products, sausages, salami, and luncheon meats.
6. Seafood: like fresh, frozen, or processed fish and seafood products, canned tuna, sardines, and other seafood
7. Fruits and Vegetables: like whole or cut fresh fruits and vegetables, packaged dried fruits, nuts, and seeds, canned, pickled, or preserved fruits and vegetables
8. oils and fats: like Vegetable Oils including olive oil, sunflower oil, palm oil, and other edible oils, Animal Fats including lard, tallow, and other edible animal fats and packaged margarine, butter substitutes, and spreads.
9. Baby and Infant Foods: like Powdered or liquid formula for babies, baby food such as cereals, pureed fruits, and vegetables and Infant Snacks biscuits, crackers, and other snacks meant for babies.
Yes, imported food products could be further tested and inspected at the port of entry to verify if they will comply with SFDA regulations. SFDA inspectors may seize some product samples for laboratory assessment before the product becomes cleared for sale.
The SFDA certificate issued for food products is valid for up to three years. Often, it depends on which category the product comes under and the regulations issued by SFDA. You must renew the certificate with new supporting papers before their expiry dates.
Yes, SFDA can withdraw the certificate if it finds the product violates any of the safety, quality, and labelling regulations at any time. This can even be an audit, inspection, or testing of the product for compliance.
SFDA CoC-SFDA Certificate of Conformity verifies that the technical regulations and standards of the SFDA regarding imported food are complied with.
SFDA Food Consignment Certification Programme is compulsorily applicable to food products coming from mandated Countries of Supply. For other countries exporting to Saudi Arabia, it remains on a voluntary basis but is highly recommended.
Food products shall be registered with SFDA before export to KSA. The Registration of Food products is majorly carried out by the Importer in KSA. SFDA issues a unique Product Registration Number to registered Food products in the format “X-X-X-DDMMYY-XXXXX”.
Commercial Registration Certificate: Issued by KSA Ministry of Commerce. The Certificate must have a mention of “Food Trade” as an activity in order to be allowed to import Food Products into KSA.
