What is SFDA?
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is an independent regulatory body in Saudi Arabia reporting directly to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, responsible for ensuring the safety of food, human and veterinary medicines, biochemical substances, and health-related electronic devices. Companies exporting food, cosmetics, and other products to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) must obtain a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) through SFDA to clear Saudi customs and be sold lawfully.
SINOQUAL's SFDA service
SINOQUAL, as an SFDA cosmetics-testing laboratory and CoC provider, issues certificates of conformity for food and cosmetics shipments exported to the Saudi market from China and elsewhere, helping companies meet SFDA technical regulations and GSO/SASO standards, ensuring smooth customs clearance and avoiding losses from rejected non-compliant shipments.
SFDA food certification (CoC)
Food certification covers: technical document evaluation, laboratory testing and sample analysis, full assessment of regulatory and standards conformity, label review per SFDA requirements, pre-shipment inspection (loading supervision / sampling / sealing), and CoC issuance. The pre-shipment inspection compares the goods against shipping documents and verifies physical and labeling requirements; the CoC is issued upon passing.
SFDA cosmetics certification (CoC + eCosma)
Key requirements for a mandatory cosmetics CoC: · The importer holds a valid commercial registration including cosmetics trade as a registered activity; · The importer has an SFDA account and a valid SFDA warehouse license; · Cosmetics and perfumes must be notified on SFDA's eCosma e-system (an eCosma number is obtained and shown on the CoC); · Products must comply with GSO technical regulation GSO 1943/2016; · Labels must be in Arabic and must not contain graphics or phrases inconsistent with Saudi traditional culture and GCC social values.
Required materials
An SFDA CoC typically requires: a signed/stamped application form, a test report from a CNAS 17025 laboratory, product photos (product name, label, trademark, country of origin, chemical composition, shelf life, instructions, barcode — in English or English/Arabic), product parameters, and a signed/stamped invoice & packing list; cosmetics additionally require the eCosma number, batch numbers, warehouse license number, technical documents (ingredient list, spec sheet, analysis report, product label, PIF, etc.), and a QMS/GMP document.
FAQ
- Which products need an SFDA CoC to export to Saudi Arabia?
- Food, cosmetics, and other categories exported to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia typically require an SFDA Certificate of Conformity (CoC) to clear customs and be sold. The specifics depend on the product category and Saudi Arabia's latest regulations — call 400-001-7706.
- How long does it take?
- It depends on the product category, testing and document preparation, and shipment scheduling. After an assessment we back-schedule to your shipping dates. For specifics, call 400-001-7706.
- How much does it cost?
- Fees vary by product category, testing scope, batches, and change with regulations. To avoid outdated quotes, we provide one-on-one precise estimates — call 400-001-7706.