SABER Certification is a conformity assessment programme for products imported into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The steps, key points and strategies for passing SABER certification are detailed below:
一、SABER Certification Steps
- Register a SABER account:
Visit the official SABER Certification website (https://saber.sa/) and click on the “Register” button to register an account.
After filling in the relevant information and completing the registration, log in to the SABER account with the username and password used during registration.
- Create a product profile:
Create a product profile in the SABER Account, including detailed information, specifications, technical parameters, etc. of the product. This information will be an important part of the certification process.
- Laboratory testing:
According to the SABER certification requirements, the product is sent to a laboratory that meets Saudi requirements for testing.
Test items typically include safety, electromagnetic compatibility, energy efficiency and other aspects to ensure that the product meets Saudi national standards and technical requirements.
- Information is submitted and reviewed:
After the test is qualified, the laboratory will upload the test report to the SABER system.
Submit product information including packaging diagram, outer box diagram, label diagram, etc. to the SABER system for review by the issuing authority.
After passing the test, pay the appropriate product registration fee and PC (Product Certificate) fee.
- Issue PC Certificate:
The PC Certificate is the first level certificate in the SABER certification process and is valid for one year.
After obtaining the PC Certificate, the company can ship the same product name to the same buyer multiple times within one year without having to reapply for the PC Certificate.
- Apply for a SCOC certificate (if required):
For some high risk or special products, SABER certification also requires inspection and issuance of an SCOC (Certificate of Inspection).
Submit the SCOC application in the SABER system and provide invoices, PC certificates and other information for verification.
After passing the review, pay the inspection certificate fee to receive the SCOC certificate. The validity period of the SCOC certificate is usually one-time, i.e. a new SCOC certificate is required for each delivery.
二、Key points of SABER certification
- Understand the standards:
Before applying for SABER certification, companies need to understand the relevant Saudi national technical regulations and standards in advance.
This will help ensure that the product meets the standards during the design and manufacturing process, thereby reducing the hassle of subsequent testing and auditing.
- Prepare materials:
When submitting an application, the company must prepare sufficient documentation, including product manuals, technical specifications, bill of materials, etc.
These materials should be detailed, accurate and reflect well the characteristics and performance of the product.
- Sample testing:
The samples provided should be representative of the final product on the market.
If there is a large difference between the sample and the actual product, the test results may be inaccurate, which will affect the progress and results of certification.
- On-site audit (if necessary):
In some cases the certification body will also audit the company’s production site.
The company must actively cooperate with the on-site audit, demonstrate the actual situation of its production process, quality control, etc. and answer the certification body’s questions.
- Continuous updating of standards:
As Saudi Arabia’s technical regulations and standards may be continuously updated, companies must continue to pay attention to changes in standards even after obtaining SABER certification.
When new standards are issued, companies must keep abreast of them and update and re-certify products in accordance with the new standards.
- Maintain the validity of the certificate:
Companies must regularly review and update their products to ensure that they continue to meet the requirements of SABER certification.
In addition, if there are major changes or upgrades to the product, the company must notify the certification body in a timely manner and conduct appropriate tests and audits.
三、SABER Certification Strategy
- Strengthen communication:
As the SABER certification process requires communication with relevant Saudi government departments, companies should have certain English communication skills.
Ensuring accurate communication and understanding of information will help speed up the certification process.
- Strict quality control:
Companies should strictly control product quality during the production process to ensure that products comply with Saudi technical regulations and standards.
This will help to improve the competitiveness of products in the market and gain the trust and recognition of consumers.
- Select an appropriate certification body:
Select a suitable certification body for certification based on product categories and risk assessment results.
Choosing a certification body with rich experience and good reputation will help improve the efficiency and success rate of certification.
- Pay close attention to policy changes:
The Saudi government may adjust and update the SABER certification policy based on market demand and product quality status.
Companies should pay close attention to policy changes and adjust production and export strategies in time to meet changes in market demand.
In summary, by following the steps of SABER certification, paying attention to the key points and adopting appropriate strategies, companies can ensure that their products comply with Saudi technical regulations and standards, improve product quality and safety, and successfully enter the Saudi market.
