Approval for the Middle East

Secure Imports to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia

Products intended for Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are tested according to the relevant standards. Our TUV Rheinland UK team will perform the necessary checks and prepare the certificates that will be required to release the imported goods from the Customs.

Benefits at a Glance

With TÜV Rheinland product approval, you can:

  • Benefit from a speedy introduction to the market of your choice
  • Gain a lead over the global competition
  • Save money - thanks to our experience and expertise
  • Be in a control over shipping your goods with the required compliance documentation
  • Benefit from fast turnaround and professional customer care services

Saudi Arabia

Consumer Goods
Virtually all products intended for import to Saudi Arabia require a certificate of conformity (CoC). This verifies your product's compatibility with national regulations - from consumer protection to religious rules. The Saudi Arabian customs and excise office requires a new certificate of conformity for every shipment. When making repeat shipments, existing documentation can be used again - greatly simplifying the certification process. Exceptions to the CoC rule include goods sent to government bodies.

Telephone Technology
All devices intended for use in the public telephone network require authorization from the Communication and Information Technology Commission or CITC.

Energy Efficiency
Since April 2010 devices with relatively high levels of energy consumption must now be tested and certified for energy efficiency. This is in addition to the CoC requirements. The product must be registered with SASO before it can receive the efficiency label.

  • Air conditioners
  • Refrigerators, freezers and combination units
  • Washing machines

Medical Products
Saudi Arabia is currently developing its own approval procedures for medical products. During this transitional phase, manufacturers must obtain approval from one of the five founding members of the GHTF - Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia/New Zealand or Japan. Additional national requirements apply to products introduced to the Saudi Arabian market. TÜV Rheinland is one of the few independent agencies authorised by the SFDA to review the relevant approval criteria. For up-to-date information, please consult our Web pages on medical products and technology or contact our Birmingham office.

Kuwait

Required Approval for Kuwait
KUCAS, the Kuwait Conformity Assessment Scheme, is the local system for product approval established by the Kuwaiti Public Authority for Industry (PAI). You must obtain a Technical Inspection Report (TIR) for your product. This is issued by a designated inspection and certification agency. Should you fail to obtain this report, your product will be tested in local laboratories - and held at customs until approved. Products with negative test results will be rejected.

Technical Inspection
Since the end of 2008, we have been authorised by the PAI to act as its proxy - testing products according to KUCAS guidelines and issuing TIRs - in the exporter's own country. We currently test electrical toys, household appliances and industrial electrical and gas appliances.

Simplified Procedures for Repeat Deliveries
The Technical Inspection Report can include various products within a shipment. Repeat deliveries of the same product can be easily documented. The TIR is based on international technical standards - such as IEC regulations for electrical products, in conjunction with various local guidelines.