To place toys on the Saudi market you must register them on SABER, the electronic conformity platform operated by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), and obtain two distinct documents: a Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC), issued for the product or model and valid for a defined period, and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC), issued per consignment and presented to Saudi Customs at clearance. The PCoC always comes first — no shipment certificate can be issued for a product that has not been registered and certified.
What exactly is SABER?
SABER is an online platform launched by SASO under the Saudi product safety programme. It replaced the earlier paper-based certificate of conformity process that was issued in the country of origin before shipment. Everything now happens through an online account, and that account must be opened by the Saudi importer, because it is tied to the commercial registration of a Saudi-registered entity. A Chinese factory cannot open the account or hold the certificate on your behalf; its role is to supply the technical file and test reports.
What is the difference between a PCoC and an SCoC?
| Aspect | Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) | Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | A product model or family of models | One specific consignment |
| Who issues it | A conformity assessment body approved by SASO for that product category | Issued through SABER against a valid PCoC |
| Based on | Test reports and a technical file | Commercial Invoice, Packing List and shipment data |
| Validity | Time-limited (commonly one year, but this can vary) | Tied only to that shipment |
| Who asks for it | A prerequisite for the SCoC | Saudi Customs at import clearance |
One caution: details such as validity period and how many model variants may sit under a single certificate can change as the regulations are updated, and can differ by product category. Confirm the current position with your conformity assessment body rather than relying on what was true for a previous shipment.
What does the conformity assessment body do?
A conformity assessment body (CAB), sometimes called a notified body, is a third-party organisation approved by SASO to operate within SABER for specific product categories. It reviews the technical file and test reports, confirms the product falls under the correct technical regulation, and issues the PCoC. CABs are not interchangeable: each is approved for a defined scope, and some have far more toy experience than others. Selecting a body that is not approved for toys is one of the most common causes of wasted weeks.
What must the Chinese factory supply?
- Safety test reports from a recognised laboratory, covering mechanical and physical properties, flammability and heavy elements.
- An accurate technical description: materials, intended age group, dimensions, model number.
- Clear photographs of the product, the retail packaging and the label.
- The artwork file for the packaging, so warnings, age grading and required markings can be checked before final printing.
- Battery documentation where applicable, including UN38.3 for lithium cells.
- A Commercial Invoice and Packing List whose model numbers match the certificate exactly.
The Saudi technical regulation for toys is built on GSO Gulf standards that are substantially aligned with the ISO 8124 series. In practice, conformity assessment bodies frequently accept test reports based on EN 71 or ASTM F963 where those reports cover the required clauses — but that acceptance is not automatic, and it varies by body and by toy type. Ask the CAB what it needs before you commission testing, not afterwards.
What is the correct sequence?
- Determine the HS codes for every item in the order.
- Open the importer's SABER account and create the product records.
- Select a CAB approved for toys and upload the technical file and test reports.
- Obtain the PCoC — ideally while production is still running, not after shipment.
- Carry out pre-shipment inspection to an agreed AQL level, checking labels and packaging against the certified specification.
- Once the final Commercial Invoice and Packing List exist, request the SCoC for that consignment.
- Clear the container at Jeddah or Dammam with the SCoC in the document set.
The practical rule is that the SCoC should be in hand before the vessel arrives. Delay at this stage converts directly into demurrage and detention.
What usually goes wrong?
- Model number mismatch between the test report, the certificate and the invoice. A single changed suffix is enough to trigger rejection.
- Wrong HS code, which routes the product to the wrong technical regulation and produces a certificate customs will not accept.
- Test reports from an unacceptable laboratory, or old reports that no longer reflect the current material specification.
- An expired PCoC between repeat orders — the classic failure for established importers who assume last year's certificate still stands.
- Missing Arabic label content, age warnings or small-parts warnings on retail packaging.
- Unregistered items inside a consolidated container, where one uncertified SKU holds up the entire shipment.
How should importers plan around it?
Treat certification as a production-stage task, not a shipping-stage task. Lock the SKU list early, freeze model numbers, and get artwork approved before mass printing, because reprinting cartons is slower and more disruptive than re-testing a sample. If you consolidate from several suppliers, make certification status a gate: no SKU joins the container until its certificate exists.
At The China Toys we prepare this groundwork before production starts: we verify that a factory can actually produce acceptable test reports, review packaging artwork and Arabic label content before printing, run pre-shipment inspection, and hand over a consistent document set that makes life easy for both your conformity assessment body and your customs broker. With more than 15 years of experience and a network of 500+ vetted factories, we shorten this stage considerably.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Chinese factory issue a SABER certificate?
No. A SABER account is tied to the Saudi importer's commercial registration, and certificates are issued in the importer's name. The factory can only provide test reports, the technical file and product photographs. Any agent offering to "issue SABER" on the factory side is in practice working through a local importer's account.
Is a PCoC alone enough to clear customs?
No. The PCoC is only a prerequisite. Saudi Customs requires the Shipment Certificate of Conformity linked to that specific consignment, and it can only be requested once the final Commercial Invoice and Packing List are issued.
Are EN 71 or ASTM F963 test reports accepted?
They are often accepted as a basis where they cover the clauses required by the GSO-based Saudi regulation, but acceptance is not automatic and varies between conformity assessment bodies and toy categories. Submit the reports for review before shipping rather than assuming they will pass.
How long does the process take?
It depends far more on test-report readiness than on the platform itself. If valid reports already exist, issuing a PCoC is relatively quick; if new laboratory testing is needed, it can add weeks. That is why certification should start when production starts, not when you book the vessel.
