New guidance confirms inspection and certification obligations upon release of goods into the Saudi market.
Saudi authorities have issued new guidance regarding the treatment of shipments handled within the Special Integrated Logistics Zone (SILZ) at King Khalid International Airport, clarifying conformity assessment requirements under this framework.
SILZ operates as a customs-suspended logistics zone, allowing companies to receive, store, and manage goods from international origins without immediate entry into the Saudi market.
Under the clarified approach, shipments entering SILZ are not considered imported into the Kingdom at the time of entry. As a result, a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) is not required at this stage.
However, the regulatory obligations change once goods are released for local distribution.
When products are transferred from SILZ into the Saudi market, they are treated as standard imports from outside the Kingdom. In this case, full conformity assessment procedures apply, including:
- Inspection of the shipment
- Issuance of a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC)
- Certification for each individual shipment released
This ensures that all products entering the Saudi market meet applicable regulatory and safety requirements, regardless of their prior storage within the logistics zone.
It is also important to note that the validity of the Shipment Certificate of Conformity is limited to the customs clearance stage, and the certificate is considered expired once clearance is completed.
This clarification reinforces the role of SILZ as a logistics and distribution hub while maintaining strict compliance controls at the point of market entry.
Cotecna supports exporters, importers, and logistics operators in navigating evolving conformity requirements in Saudi Arabia. Our teams provide inspection and certification services aligned with national regulations, ensuring smooth release of shipments into the market.
For more assistance and details on the SFDA certification programmes, please feel free to contact us.
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About Cotecna
For over 50 years, we have been supporting agriculture, food and pharma, minerals and metals, and consumer products supply chains all over the world. We provide testing, inspection, and certification services to help our clients navigate evolving regulations, ensure product compliance, and support their sustainability journey.