What do you mean by Importer?

Importer is the commercial or industrial domain (trade file) or (industrial file) importing raw materials for processing food or ready-for-sale food products.

It is necessary for the following reasons:

  • Provides a database for all importers, establishments, and products.
  • Enables you to process your work easily and quickly.
  • Improves communication between SFDA and importers as well as food establishment.

You can sign up through the following steps:

  1. Go to the following link: https://frcs.sfda.gov.sa
  2. Click on “create a new account”
  3. Set up a user name and a password.
  4. Select the type of establishment.
  5. Fill out the registration form and click on “submit”.
  6. A message will be sent to your email containing an activation code.
  7. After your account is activated, you can complete your registration.
  8. Submit the form.

  • Saudi Local Importer
    1. Commercial Certificate.
    2. Authentication Letter click here
  • Custom Broker
    1. Saudi Custom Broker License.
    2. Authentication Letter click here
  • Foreign Est.
    1. Registration Certificate.(Issued By the Governmental Health Authority)
    2. Industrial Certificate.(Issued By Ministry of Industry or Commerce)

Once registration is completed, a request to confirm registration will be sent to the applicant via email. The SFDA decision regarding the application will be emailed to the applicant and it shall take the following responses:

  • Accepted: your request has been accepted.
  • Incomplete: the applicant is requested to complete the missing information within a week to avoid cancellation.
  • Rejected: your request has been rejected because it contains false information or because of non-compliance.

It is strictly prohibited to use SFDA’s logo for these purposes, and such violation may result in legal prosecution and execution of severe penalties as stated in the law.

YES, if using different trade files.

You cannot delete a registered product, but you are not obliged to continue importing such product.

YES, even after while.

First, you have to open an account in the SFDA. Secondly, you need to register the type of product(s). Then, you can use the service.

YES. You can refer each case to a different broker.

YES.

You should ask your broker to sign up. It is better to check whether he has registered before you assign him the case.

YES.

The broker is requested to change it into the actual amount.

Sign up as a new applicant using the same values you previously entered while changing the amounts upon the arrival of the shipment.

This service is provided around the clock. All you need is to have an online access. The submission of documents and inspection takes place at BIP during the working hours of the respective port.

He links the importer’s application with the date and statement of import and the designated port. He also processes, prints and submits the application, along with the necessary documents, to the inspection department at the port.

YES.

NO. SFDA will communicate directly with the importer.

You are required to sign up in SFDA website, entering your National ID or Iqama, the type of product(s) and then you can carry on with the inspection and examination procedures.

It must be done by a person who has sufficient background about the technical and administrative information necessary to complete the registration and is officially assigned by the establishment.

YES.

NO. This is a requirement that only the importer must meet prior to importation.

It facilitates the flow of goods from overseas premises to the BIPs.

It is an online service which aims at building up a database for all food establishments, including companies, manufacturers, agents, and local wholesale distributors.

The following are required to sign up:
• Food companies.
• Food manufacturers.
• Domestic agents.
• Wholesale distributors

YES.

For the following reasons:
• It enables registered establishments to use SFDA Food Sector E-services.
• It enhances communication between SFDA and those who benefits from E-services.

YES. If you change your contact details.

You may be obtained from several sources (the manufacturing company – customs broker – Department of Customs).

Is a number consisting of 8 digits and is used to define the classification of products with the Customs Department.

System does not accept any item tariff is less than 8 digits.

No. Description will appear directly from the system.

This means that you’ve entered the wrong HS number.

Yes, have been modified by the Customs Department has been modified in the body system as well.

Yes, as long as information is available to you or you can get from the manufacturer.

Is the picture of the whole product data envelope before printing (ArtWork).

From the manufacturer.

Is just an image of the product after packaging (snap shot).

Is the number of adoption of the manufacturing company in the country issued by a governmental regulatory.

Is the weight of solid food material of the net weight (solid + liquid) and are always less than the net weight.

Country of origin: the country that originated from the raw material. Country of production: the country that has been manufacturing the product. Packing country: the country that have been filling the product without any manufacturing processes on the product.

Application shall be rejected.

When you register on the site, download the letter electronically in the field provided.

Enter the number 0 in the field of barcode.

No, but it is fixed to the attributes of the product on production is not linked, there may sometimes variable bar code or batch by batch products, in this case do not write in this barcode.

No. It should be in Arabic as shown in the label.

No.

If there is more than a trademark or brand name on the product. Write one of them in brand name field and the other on the trademark field. In the case of one Trademark or one brand, Name type them in both fields.

No.

No.

The fullest extent of the images is 1 MB.

Is a field that enables to write any warning written on the Label or the product. (ie, over-use of the product may cause allergic reactions – or not used for children less than 12 months – contains nuts etc. …….. ).

The controls data for recording products are as follows:

  1. Name of the product field (product name)
    1. Registering Food Items only.
    2. Writing the product name in Arabic language.
    3. Writing the product name as it’s written on the product label.
    4. Do not write the product name in English language alongside Arabic (Arabic only).
    5. Do not write the weight with the product name.
    6. Do not write the brand name with the product name.
    7. Do not write the Trade Mark with the product name.
    8. Do not write the country of origin with the product name.
    9. Do not write any description of the product on the label.
  2. barcode field
    1. Do not leave a space, or writing (-) between the barcode numbers.
    2. In case of absence of bar code, please write (0).
    3. Write the product barcode in the rest of the fields.
  • Trade Mark Field.
    1. If the company is not Arabic, write the Trade Mark in English.
    2. Do not write the product name in the field of Trade Mark .
    3. In case of absence of the Trade Mark , please write manufacturer name.
    4. Do not merge more than one mark in the field of Trade Mark.
    5. If there was only one Trade Mark, please write Trade Mark in the field of brand.
  • Brand field
    1. If the company is not Arabic, write the Brand name in English.
    2. Do not write the product name in the brand field.
    3. In case of absence of the Brand name, please write manufacturer name.
    4. Do not merge more than one Brand in the field of Brand name.
    5. If there was only one Brand, please write the Brand name in the field of Trade Mark.
  • HS code field
    1. Write HS code that matches the product to be registered.
    2. In case if (HS8) for HS code does not appear, it means that the entered figure is wrong.
  • Drain Weight field
    1. In the case of solid and liquid material in the product record Drain Weight.
    2. Drained weight should be less than the net weight,
  • Type of packaging field
    1. Choose the kind of packaging of the product that will be recording data and not for the outer or inside carton.
  • Producer or manufacturing company field
    1. If the company not Arabic, write the company name in English.
  • Approval number for the Producer or manufacturing
    1. You should write the approval number for the Producer or manufacturing for meat products, poultry and fish.
  • Food Label Image field
    1. It should be a clear relationship between the food Label Image and the food image.
    2. It should be a clear relationship between the food label image and the product data which recorded in all the fields
      (weight, Type of packaging ….. etc).
    3. Be a product card (class) contains the basic data (name of the product, the country of origin, Manufacturing, Packaging, weight – plug-in Arabic, English language components… etc)
    4. Food label image should be clear and from all sides.
    5. Food label image should be clear to read.
    6. You may obtain a copy of product card (class) of the manufacturer (Art Work).
  • food image field
    1. It should be a clear relationship between the food Label Image and the food image.
    2. It should be a clear relationship between the food label image and the product data which recorded in all the fields
      (weight, Type of packaging ….. etc)
    3. Food image should shows the type of product packaging.
    4. Food image should be clear.
    5. Registering the product which relate it to the Food image of (the products) not for the carton.
    6. Food image should for one product.
    7. You may obtain a copy of the food image product from the manufacturer.
    8. Do not download the food label image in the field of food image.
    9. Do not repeat the download of the food label Image in the field of food image.

You can get the SHELF LIFE of the food products by referring to GCC standard No. (GSO 150/2007) entitled (Expiration Periods of food Products)

You could do that by referring to GCC Standard No.(GSO 9/2007) entitled (Labelling of prepackaged food stuffs)

You could obtain these Standards using the following link: https://www.gso.org.sa/standards