The Announcement
On December 16, 2021, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) published a notice outlining the full implementation date for the new RoHS technical regulation, “Technical Regulation for Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment.”
What is Saso?
SASO, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organisation, was established in 1972. It is a government organisation in charge of all standards, measurement, and quality-related tasks throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Quality Mark Scheme, legislation, and other factors are used by SASO to establish the necessary conformity procedures for products and to provide the required measures for quality control of raw materials and finished goods.
The main goals of SASO are to improve the standards and quality of goods and services, safeguard consumers, and increase the domestic economy’s competitiveness.
The New Regulations Application
Some regulations have already come into effect. Still, others have not, as this new system is being implemented gradually, starting at the beginning of 2022 and continuing through 2023. The following dates mark the gradual implementation of the new regulation:
| Product category name | Enforcement date |
| Small household appliances | July 4, 2022 |
| Large household appliances | October 2, 2022 |
| Equipment for telecommunications and information technology | December 31, 2022 |
| Equipment for lighting | March 31, 2023 |
| Electronic and Electrical equipment and tools | June 29, 2023 |
| Games, entertainment devices, and sports equipment | September 27, 2023 |
| Tools for control and monitoring | December 26, 2023 |
A New Law Governing Electrical and Electronic Devices.
Governments and organisations in Saudi Arabia are implementing thoughtful regulations to protect consumers and the environment as electrical and electronic equipment becomes necessary for daily life. The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), a technical government body with a presence in the Middle East, recently released a regulation regarding hazardous materials in this thriving commercial sector.
By limiting the content of dangerous substances such as cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, mercury, polybrominated biphenyls, and polybrominated biphenyl ethers, SASO’s Technical Regulation for Limiting Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Appliances and Equipment seeks to protect consumer health and safety as well as the environment. In addition to that, the regulation details the obligatory conformity assessment procedures.
Applicable Categories
The regulation covers the following categories of electrical and electronic spare parts and devices:
- Small household appliances.
- Large household appliances.
- Equipment for telecommunications and information technology.
- Lighting equipment.
- Electronic and Electrical equipment and tools.
- Games, entertainment tools and devices, and sports equipment.
- Tools for control and monitoring.
But some groups of electrical and electronic devices are not included, for example,
- Space-bound equipment.
- Medical equipment.
- Military hardware and weapons
- installations fixed on a large scale.
- Stationary industrial equipment of a large scale.
How can suppliers achieve conformity?
Applicable product suppliers must obtain SASO-approved notified body Certificates of Conformity through the SABER platform for RoHS approval. SABER, a mandatory system, certifies imports into Saudi Arabia online and will eventually replace Saudi customs clearance.
Suppliers must choose one of two conformity assessment methods for RoHS certification. The first option requires a complete product test report from a supplier. Alternatively, the supplier may provide a report for at least three crucial components, parts, or subassemblies that have been given priority in a risk analysis.
Suppliers may not submit their own reporting data; all reports must be generated by a testing laboratory that has received ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.