Standards and Quality Law

The Standards and Quality Law is a set of legal rules and procedures that establish a general framework for standardization and quality in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was issued on August 4, 2024, and consists of twenty-four articles.

The Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization (SASO) serves as the supervisory and reference authority responsible for all standardization and quality activities, except for products and services under the jurisdiction of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) in accordance with its law.

Article One of the Standards and Quality Law defines a standard as an approved document that establishes rules, guidelines, or characteristics for related products, processes, and production methods, with compliance being non-mandatory. It also specifies different types of standards, including the Saudi Standard, which is approved by the Board of Directors of SASO and serves as the national standard of Saudi Arabia; the National Standard, which is adopted by a standardization body in a specific country; the Regional Standard, which is adopted by a regional standardization body; and the International Standard, which is adopted by an international standardization body.

According to the Standards and Quality Law, a relevant document refers to a document concerning technical specifications, technical reports, guidelines, and other documents approved by a standardization body. However, it is not considered a standard under the provisions of the law.

According to Article Three of the Standards and Quality Law, the law is based on several guiding principles, including the participation of relevant entities—government agencies and the private sector—in the preparation, adoption, and approval of standards; transparency in the procedures for preparing, adopting, and approving standards and relevant documents for public access; alignment of the Saudi standard with the relevant document; consideration of the level of technological advancement and development in the field of products; contribution to sustainable development; adherence to the principles and rules of international and regional standardization organizations, as well as relevant international agreements to which Saudi Arabia is a party; and non-discrimination between domestic and imported products.

According to Article Four of the Standards and Quality Law, standardization activities aim to ensure a high level of protection for human, animal, and plant life, as well as property, security, and the environment. They also seek to support the competitiveness of the national economy, promote fair trade in the market, protect and support consumer interests and expectations, improve resource and energy utilization, encourage sustainable production and consumption patterns, facilitate trade exchanges with relevant parties by eliminating unnecessary technical barriers, and contribute to enhancing the quality of products and services.

According to Article Six of the Standards and Quality Law, SASO is responsible for implementing the provisions of the law. This includes preparing a draft national standardization strategy in coordination with relevant entities, submitting it through the regulatory procedures, and overseeing its implementation after approval. SASO is also tasked with developing standards and relevant documents, reviewing or withdrawing them as necessary, approving measures to protect standards in accordance with relevant legal provisions, and supporting and promoting studies related to standardization.

SASO also provides interpretations of standards and relevant documents when necessary, prepares and updates a standards guide, and participates in the development, adoption, and review of international and regional standards and relevant documents in a manner that serves the interests of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, it represents Saudi Arabia in international and regional standardization organizations and national standardization bodies while safeguarding its interests in organizations concerned with standards. SASO ensures that Saudi, national, regional, and international standards in force are made publicly available for a fee. It also acts as a reference body for standards and relevant documents by providing information and notifications related to standards and relevant documents in accordance with Saudi Arabia’s commitments under international agreements. Furthermore, it contributes to promoting the application of Saudi standards and carries out any other mandates related to standardization as stipulated by the regulations.

According to Article Seven of the Standards and Quality Law, SASO is responsible for developing standards and relevant documents in accordance with the procedures set forth in the regulations. SASO also forms technical teams tasked with preparing these standards and documents while ensuring compliance with its copyright policy. The regulations specify the working procedures of these technical teams as well as their financial compensation. The adoption and approval of standards and relevant documents are determined by a decision of the Board or its authorized representative and are published through a medium deemed appropriate by SASO. The standard or relevant document is considered approved from the date specified by the board or its authorized representative. Additionally, SASO contributes by notifying relevant entities about the procedures for developing and approving Saudi standards and relevant documents when necessary, as well as the procedures for making them publicly available.

Article Nine of the Standards and Quality Law stipulates that international and regional standards, along with relevant documents, serve as the basis for adopting Saudi standards. However, if no international or regional standard exists in a specific field, or if such standards are ineffective or unsuitable for achieving SASO’s objectives, the required level of protection, or considerations related to climate, geography, technology, financial, developmental, or commercial needs of Saudi Arabia, the national standard becomes the primary reference as determined by SASO.

According to Article Ten of the Standards and Quality Law, the Saudi standard or relevant document begins with the identification code (Meem, Qaaf, Seen) in Arabic and (SASO) in English. The Arabic language is used in drafting the Saudi standard and the relevant document. Another language may be used alongside Arabic, provided that Arabic remains the official language for interpreting the Saudi standard and the relevant document.

According to Article Eleven of the Standards and Quality Law, the Saudi standard and relevant document are published in a special edition through SASO’s printed materials, its website, or any other medium it deems appropriate. SASO may also authorize public or private sector entities, as well as international or regional organizations, to sell its standards and relevant documents in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the regulations.

According to Article Thirteen of the Standards and Quality Law, SASO is responsible for periodically reviewing the Saudi standard and relevant document or upon request from any relevant entity. The standard or document may also be updated, suspended, or withdrawn if necessary.

The implementation of the Saudi standard and relevant document is voluntary. However, government entities may, in accordance with their laws and regulations, make the application of the Saudi standard mandatory, provided they obtain prior approval from the SASO.

According to Article Fourteen of the Standards and Quality Law, SASO is responsible for developing a national quality strategy in coordination with relevant entities, submitting it for approval through the regulatory procedures, and overseeing its implementation after approval.

Article Fifteen of the Standards and Quality Law states that the Board of Directors of SASO is responsible for adopting and approving standards, regulations, and relevant documents that define product and service quality specifications. Additionally, Article Sixteen allows SASO to launch competitions and initiatives related to quality with the aim of improving the quality of products and services in Saudi Arabia.

According to Article Seventeen of the Standards and Quality Law, SASO issues the quality mark certificate and other marks in accordance with the procedures and conditions specified in the relevant regulations. No individual is permitted to use or advertise the quality mark or other marks issued by SASO unless granted the right to do so. Those who obtain the right to use the quality mark and other marks issued by SASO must:

a) Comply with the terms of use stipulated in the relevant regulations.

b) Cease using the quality mark and other marks issued by SASO upon the expiration of their license to use them.

According to Article Eighteen of the Standards and Quality Law, violations of the law and its regulations are detected, investigated, and documented by inspectors appointed by the board. It is prohibited to obstruct or prevent an inspector from carrying out inspection and enforcement duties.

Inspectors must also maintain the confidentiality of any information obtained in the course of their work. However, maintaining confidentiality does not prevent the disclosure of necessary information to competent authorities.

According to Article Twenty-One of the Standards and Quality Law, penalties are enforced through the formation of one or more committees by a decision of the Board of Directors of SASO.

The committee enforces penalties by issuing decisions in accordance with the rules and procedures specified in the regulations. Any person subject to a decision may appeal it before the Administrative Court within sixty days from the date of notification.

The penalty is enforced against anyone who violates the provisions of Article Seventeen and may include one or more of the following:

a) Suspension of the right to use the quality mark certificate or other marks issued by SASO for a period not exceeding one year.

b) Revocation of the quality mark certificate or other marks issued by SASO.

c) A fine not exceeding SAR1 million.

The committee may also include in its decision a provision requiring the publication of a summary of the penalty at the violator's expense in a local newspaper issued in their place of residence. If no such newspaper exists, the publication may take place in the nearest region or through any other appropriate means, depending on the nature, severity, and impact of the violation. The publication may only occur after the decision becomes final following the expiration of the legally prescribed appeal period or once a final ruling is issued.