InstaCertify Logo 1-instacertify
Search

SFDA for Rice​

Schedule Free Consultation

Exporting rice to Saudi Arabia requires compliance with the Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA) technical regulations. All rice consignments from countries listed by SFDA must hold a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued before shipment by an SFDA-approved certification body or an accredited third party. Exporters must use SFDA’s lists of approved establishments and meet standards for hygiene, pesticide residues, contaminants, labelling (Arabic/bilingual), and product registration to avoid delays or rejection at Saudi ports. Pre-shipment testing and accurate documentation speed customs clearance.

Background img 3-instacertify
5000+

Testing Equipments

Background img 2-instacertify
10K+

Testing Reports

Background img-instacertify
5K+

Certification Served

three-arrows-1.svg
Free Consultation by Expert
whatsapp
privacy Policy

Get SFDA Rice Certification with Instacertify

Instacertify simplifies the SFDA CoC process from documentation to testing and issuance. We guide exporters through SFDA account setup, product registration, label review (Arabic requirements), and the selection of ISO/IEC 17025 labs for mandatory tests (pesticide residues, moisture, contaminants). Instacertify coordinates container inspection, sampling, and pre-shipment testing with accredited labs and submits results to an SFDA-approved certification body to obtain the CoC on the FASEH/FASEC platform where required. Our end-to-end service reduces port holds and accelerates customs release by ensuring rice consignments meet SFDA technical rules and appear on the approved-establishment lists.

Who Can Apply for This Certificate

Exporters, rice millers, packing houses, and authorized exporters registered with their national food authority can apply. The Saudi importer typically initiates shipment registration on SFDA’s platform (FASEH) while the foreign establishment must be registered/approved by SFDA and provide required documentation, test reports, and quality system evidence (e.g., ISO 22000/HACCP) to obtain the CoC.

List of Documents Required for SFDA

Below is a comprehensive checklist exporters should prepare:

1. Exporter / Manufacturing company documents

  • Commercial Registration / Business License (copy).
  • Exporter/supplier company profile and contact details.
  • List of production/packing establishments (SFDA-approved index if available).

2. Consignment & Trade Documents

  • Commercial Invoice.
  • Packing List.
  • Bill of Lading / Airway Bill.
  • Certificate of Origin (Chamber of Commerce).

3. Food Safety & Quality Documents

  • Certificate of Analysis (CoA) from an ISO/IEC 17025 lab showing pesticide residues, moisture, microbiological reports, heavy metals, and other relevant tests.
  • HACCP / ISO 22000 certificate (if requested).
  • Plant/Factory hygiene certificate and evidence of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

4. Product-Specific Documents

  • Ingredient declaration and composition.
  • Nutritional information (if applicable).
  • Allergen declarations.
  • Halal certificate (if applicable/claimed).

5. Health & Regulatory Documents

  • Health Certificate (where applicable) issued by national veterinary/food authority (mainly for some agro-products).
  • Fumigation certificate (if required).
  • Any required phytosanitary certificates for specific rice consignments.

6. Labelling & Artwork

  • Final label artwork with Arabic translation (or bilingual label) and nutrition/allergen statements following GSO/SFDA labelling rules.

7. SFDA Platform / Certification Documents

  • SFDA Account and Product Registration confirmation (FASEH registration if used).
  • Application or RFC form(s) required by the certification body.
  • Any previous SFDA CoC numbers (if repeat exporter).

The Process to Apply for SFDA for Rice

1. Check SFDA Lists & Eligibility

  • Verify whether your establishment or country requires a prior approval/CoC for rice exports (SFDA publishes approved-establishment lists per country). If your mill is not listed, initiate approval application.

2. Register Accounts & Product

  • The Saudi importer or exporter registers on SFDA’s FASEH/FASEC platform (as required). Create an SFDA exporter/foreign establishment registration if required by product/country.

3. Prepare Documentation

  • Assemble commercial documents, CoA, hygiene certificates, ISO/HACCP copies, label artwork in Arabic, COO, and company credentials (see checklist above). Pre-validate label content against GSO 9:2013 rules.

4. Pre-shipment Testing

  • Book accredited ISO/IEC 17025 lab tests for: pesticide residues (per SFDA max limits), microbial limits, moisture, mycotoxins (if applicable), heavy metals, and any country-specific analytes. Ensure labs use validated methods and provide signed CoA.

5. Inspection & Sampling (if required)

  • An SFDA-approved CB or nominated inspection agency may supervise container loading, sample collection, and sealing. Book supervision to avoid non-conformities at arrival.

6. Submit Application for CoC

  • Submit the dossier (documents + CoA + inspection reports) to an SFDA-approved Certification Body (e.g., SGS, Intertek, TÃœV or other approved CBs). The CB reviews and issues a pre-shipment Certificate of Conformity if compliant.

7. FASEH / SFDA Validation & Certificate Issuance

  • Where applicable, the CB enters the CoC on SFDA’s FASEH/FASEC portal. The certificate number is provided to the exporter and Saudi importer to allow fast-track customs release.

8. Shipment & Arrival

  • Attach CoC and documentation to the shipment. On arrival, customs and SFDA may still perform verification or sample testing; compliant consignments are cleared faster. Non-compliant consignments can be rejected or subject to local testing and rework.

9. Record Keeping & Repeats

  • Keep all CoAs, certificates, and testing records. For repeat shipments, use prior approvals to streamline future CoC issuance.

Products Covered

SFDA’s rice scope typically covers:

Raw paddy rice; white rice (long/medium/short grain); basmati rice; parboiled rice; broken rice; polished rice.Value-added/processed rice: parboiled, precooked, instant rice, rice flour, rice bran, rice flakes (poha), puffed rice, rice mixes, rice-based snacks.Rice by-products relevant to food trade: rice bran oil (food grade), rice starch, rice protein (if marketed as food).

Note: each product may trigger specific tests (e.g., mycotoxins for paddy, moisture for polished rice). Always check SFDA lists for product-level requirements.

Timeline

Total typical end-to-end: 7–25 days. Urgent requests may be faster with paid fast-track testing or pre-approved exporters on SFDA lists. (Timelines vary by country, lab backlog, and whether additional clarifications are requested.)

Cost

For accurate costing, request a tailored quote listing your product type, country of origin, required tests, and shipment size — Instacertify can provide a detailed estimate. (Estimates are indicative; get a formal quote.)

News & Updates

Notification

Testimonial

Working with Instacertify has been a really convenient and professional experience. I highly appreciate their dedication, prompt assistance, and clear process. The staff made the certification process simple and stress-free. I am very pleased with their work and look forward to continue our collaboration for future compliance requirements.

Sunil Mehra

Instacertify has been excellent in handling our certification requirements. Their skilled assistance and proactive crew ensured a seamless procedure from beginning to end. I greatly admire their professionalism and dedication. Working with them has been a pleasure, and I am really pleased with the results they produced.

Tanya Gupta

I am very pleased with the services provided by Instacertify. Their team is knowledgeable, supportive, and always available to guide us through complex certification requirements. The entire process was efficient and stress-free. I truly appreciate their hard work and dedication, and I highly recommend their services to others.

Manish Singh

We've worked with several certification companies in the past, but none compare to Insta Certify Services. Their streamlined testing and certification processes have saved us time and resources. The team goes above and beyond to ensure everything is done correctly, and their equipment is cutting-edge.

Andrey Hudyakov

Frequently Asked Questions

SFDA Rice Certification is a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued by an SFDA-approved certification body confirming that rice products meet Saudi Food & Drug Authority regulations on safety, quality, and labeling. Without this certificate, rice shipments cannot be cleared at Saudi customs.

Saudi Arabia requires SFDA certification to ensure rice is safe, free from excessive pesticide residues, contaminants, or microbes, and labeled in compliance with Arabic labeling standards. It protects consumers and ensures only approved establishments export to Saudi Arabia.

Exporters, rice millers, packers, and suppliers approved by SFDA or listed with their national food authority can apply. Usually, the Saudi importer initiates the registration on the SFDA FASEH portal, while the exporter provides documents, lab reports, and compliance proof.

Exporters must provide: commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, bill of lading, certificate of analysis (lab test results), ISO/HACCP certificates (if applicable), health certificate, phytosanitary certificate (if needed), and Arabic label artwork. Additional documents may apply based on shipment type.