SFDA Food Conformity Assessment Programme

As a trusted partner of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Cotecna is approved to support the SFDA Food programme and perform a conformity assessment of food and beverage products.
Our role is to assess and verify the compliance of food and beverage that will be exported to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in accordance with all regulations, rules and specifications approved by SFDA.

The conformity assessment programme aims to ensure the safety and security of food, feed, and pesticides, ease commercial traffic flow, and reinforce consumer and client confidence in the food control authority.

SFDA Food Conformity Assessment Routes

To assess the conformity of a shipment, the verification of conformity process will follow one of two levels of compliance, named “routes”. The choice of the route depends on the profile of the exporter. These are:

Route A - for exporters with infrequent shipments (Non registered products)
It involves pre-shipment inspection and pre-shipment testing of products. Physical inspection can be carried out to verify the labelling/markage, storage and other visual verification.

Route B - for regular exporters with homogenous products (Registered products)
This process involves product testing for compliance and the statement of Product Registration is valid for a year.

SFDA Food Certification Process

1. The exporter / importer will have to fill out the Request of Certification (RFC) and Declaration of Conformity
2. Once we receive your request, a dedicated and local coordinator will review your demand.
3. Your coordinator will check all the necessary documentation and from that, define the scope of needs.
4. When necessary and to comply with importing SFDA's regulations, your dedicated coordinator will guide you through the needed verifications and will schedule them (testing of samples, inspection and/or audit when required)
5. After satisfactory results, Cotecna will issue the product certificate (valid one year)

To find out more about the Regulated Product list, the latest Technical Regulations and other requirements, visit our dedicated Saudi Arabia website.