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 (SASO) 2870/2015 regulation, which requires all lighting manufacturers importing into Saudi Arabia comply with a strict set of new SASO Energy Efficient Labelling standards.
Customs Delays…
Over recent months XDS Solutions has been contacted by a growing number of lighting product exporters suffering shipment delays, or being refused entry. The reason for this, is a failure to obtain the correct Energy Efficiency (EE) Certificate, and to fix the corresponding Energy Efficiency (EE) Labels on their registered products. Both the label and certificate must be issued by a SASO approved agency. The text on the label will be Arabic and display the SASO logo and a unique QR code for validation purposes. Energy Efficiency labelling and certification issued by agencies other than those that are SASO approved are not accepted.
An example of the accepted label type is below:
Customs officials are strictly implementing these new requirements, and to protect your firm’s supply chain it’s vital that you comply.
SASO EEL – timeline snapshot…
- On May 1st 2016 SASO 2870/2015 was implemented. This meant that to obtain a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) shipments of lighting products under the scope of the regulation were required to include an EE Certificate and EE label.
- On August 1st 2016 Kingdom of Saudi Arabian (KSA) Customs began strictly implementing this requirement, failing to pass shipments of lighting products who fail to comply with the requirement to carry an EE label.
SASO EEL – how it impacts you…
- The SASO 2870/2015 regulation deals with the requirements for Energy Efficiency, Functionality, Hazardous Chemicals, Marking and Energy Efficiency Labelling on the lighting products included within its scope.
- If you import the following lighting products into Saudi Arabia, then you must comply –
Indirect and direct general light sources. Those which have a luminous flux above 60 lumens and below 12000 lumens. The following technologies are included: Incandescent lamps, halogen lamps, compact fluorescent lamps with integrated ballast (CFLi), light-emitting diode (LED) lamps (incandescent retrofit types) and light-emitting diode (LED) lamps (halogen retrofit types).
- If you import indirect and direct lamps (including incandescent, high & low voltage halogen, CFLi & LED) then be aware that products will be required to achieve the new maximum allowable Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) by the following deadlines: 1st May 2017 (stage 2) and 1st January 2019 (stage 3). (Stage 1 deadline was 1st May 2016).
More information on SASO can be found in our recent blog 7 simple steps to understanding SASO Energy Efficient Labelling.
* 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. Will it impact you? Talk to us>> or read more in our recent blog here >>
XDS Solutions is a one-stop service for exporters. No more complex web-based forms. Instead your expert Account Manager will take charge of the mandatory testing and certification required for successful import of your shipments into Saudi Arabia. The result? SASO within 5 days, reduced inspections and greater cost efficiency.
Ensure you’re compliant. Talk to us >>
Back in late 2016 we were experiencing serious delays to our Saudi SASO certification process. Since moving to XDS the SASO process across our USA, UK and German operations is streamlined, hassle free and SASO certification now arrives within a matter of days, not months.
Using XDS has been a great move for Bartec Vodec. I have found the level of support from their staff to be brilliant. All responses are very prompt and helpful, and I feel confident everything is being dealt with correctly by XDS – so I don’t have to chase or ask them again for anything
We used to use multiple global inspection agencies and struggled with up to 10 days delay in the issuance of a SONCAP Certificate. With XDS Solutions turnaround is far superior and quality of service is excellent.
XDS has managed all our requirements for Certificates of conformity and we are very happy with the services they provide.
As EnerSys develops its business in Nigeria, we greatly appreciate the role XDS plays. We find huge value in the tailored advice, unparalleled level of knowledge, and the flexible support at the end of the phone.
