The Saudi Food and Drug Authority announce updates to prohibited, restricted, and permitted cosmetic substances, with new compliance timelines for cosmetic products placed on the Saudi market.
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has issued a new circular announcing updates to the Cosmetic Substances Annexes, introducing changes that will impact the formulation, importation, and manufacture of cosmetic products in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
These updates affect multiple annexes and introduce new compliance timelines that manufacturers, exporters, and importers must carefully consider.
Key Updates to the Cosmetic Substances Annexes
According to the SFDA circular:
- Annex II (Prohibited Substances)
One additional substance has been added to the list of prohibited cosmetic ingredients. - Annex III (Restricted Substances)
Existing restrictions have been amended, and new substances have been added, as detailed in the updated tables. - Annex V (Allowed Preservatives)
One new substance has been added to the list of preservatives permitted for use in cosmetic products. - Annex VI (Allowed UV Filters)
One new UV filter substance has been added to the list of approved ingredients.
Compliance Deadlines
The SFDA has defined the following implementation timeline:
- 1 July 2027
Importation or manufacturing of cosmetic products that do not comply with the updated annexes will be prohibited. - 1 July 2028
All cosmetic products currently available on the Saudi market must be fully compliant with the updated requirements.
What This Means for Stakeholders
Manufacturers, exporters, and importers of cosmetic products intended for the Saudi market are advised to review product formulations, ingredient lists, and technical documentation to ensure alignment with the updated SFDA requirements within the specified deadlines.
Early assessment and corrective actions can help avoid delays, non-compliance risks, or disruptions to market access.
How Cotecna Can Support
Cotecna supports cosmetic manufacturers and exporters with regulatory compliance services for the Saudi market, including conformity assessment, testing, and documentation review in line with SFDA requirements.
For further guidance, stakeholders are encouraged to contact their nearest Cotecna office.
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.