Export Document Introduction: Saudi Arabia The Middle East’s largest country in sq. miles and second largest economy, Saudi Arabia, is a market that existing or up-and-coming exporters should play close attention to. Despite economic activity decelerating due to the ongoing cut in oil production, the outlook remains positive. With economists agreeing that the government’s plan…
R&TTE Directive – Update for household appliance manufacturers On 13th June 2017, the new European Radio Equipment Directive (RED-2014/53/EU) will be enforced. Referred to simply as the RED directive, it is a replacement for the existing Radio & Tele-communication Terminal directive (R&TTE-1999/5/EC) and impacts businesses in EU/EEA member countries manufacturing appliances using the radio frequency…
SASO – Energy Efficiency Requirements for Lighting Products and Lamps Since 1st August 2016, Saudi Arabian Customs has required importers of lighting products and lamps to carry a compliant Energy Efficient Label (EEL) before entry to the country is granted. This is part of the of the new 2016 Saudi Standards Metrology and Quality Organization…
Cosmetics GSO Standards: Changes for Exporters to Saudi Arabia Regulatory Update: The 2016 version of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) GSO 1943 regulation is now under enforcement. This means that importers of cosmetic products to Saudi Arabia must list (notify) ALL products through the eCosma Notification System* prior to Certificate of Conformity (SASO…
Pre-Shipment Inspection – An Exporter’s Guide… More and more businesses exporting to countries such as Egypt, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia are coming un-stuck when it comes to the pre-shipment inspection (PSI) process. Our expert Account Managers agree, it’s not hard to see why. With frequent changes to regulation and new requirements that all too often…
Country of Origin Certificate: Exporter basics… Arab-British documents, legalised invoices, European Community (EC) Certificate of Origin, EUR1 Movement Certificate, ATR Movement Certification. No matter how you look at it, gaining a Country of Origin certificate and organising the associated documentation is a complicated labyrinth and many businesses struggle to understand the minimum requirement they should…
SASO Refresher for White Goods Exporters Since April 2010, Saudi Arabia has mandated that air conditioners, washing machines, fridges and freezers being imported must comply to a strict set of energy efficient standards. Known as SASO Energy Efficient Labelling. But…did you know that these products must now meet a minimum star rating as well? Understanding the…
IOE & XDS: exporting into the Middle East & Africa The World Bank’s World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) has reported that Saudi Arabia’s import levels now stand at $163.8m, with Nigeria’s reaching $46.5m. As an Institute of Export (IOE&IT) corporate member and expert in export procedures, XDS Solutions, is firmly fixed on helping Institute members,…
7 Steps to understanding SONCAP for exports into Nigeria Back in January 2013 the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) released an all new SONCAP process. This strict set of guidelines for exports into Nigeria is complex, mandatory and can prove challenging for even the most seasoned exporter…. But we’ve got your back. Read on for…
Gulf Conformity Tracking Symbol – are you ready? April 1st 2017 is the deadline set for implementation of the Gulf Standards Association (GSO) new Gulf Conformity Tracking Symbol (GCTS) for electrical products certified for marketing in the Gulf region. (It had previously been January 1st) GCTS Snapshot GCTS is a combination of the mandatory…