2ND EDITION QQNL ''REGULATORY AFFAIRS NEWS FOR KSA’’

VAT FROM 5 TO 15% IN THE KINGDOM

The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has announced that the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate will increase to 15% from the current 5%, effective 1 July 2020.

The increase comes as part of additional measures taken by the KSA government in response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis, due to the decline in government revenue resulting from lower oil prices, reduced economic activity and increased healthcare expenditure, which could impact the business flow in the Kingdom.

90 DAYS INSTEAD OF 30
 

As per the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), companies who are applying for Food Supplements and Energy Drinks registrations have a grace period of 90 days to reply to the authority request. ‘’ this grace period has been announced to be valid from 4th June until 1st October 2020.

The grace period will be back to normal as default of 30 days only on October 1st, 2020

SFDA EXPLAINING THE ISSUE ABOUT PHARMACEUTICALS CONTAINS ‘’METFORMIN’’

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority issued an explanatory statement regarding pharmaceuticals containing metformin, as it confirmed that based on what has been monitored about the presence of defects in the quality of some preparations containing the active ingredient ( Metformin)It is contaminated with chemical impurities known as a substance (NDMA) N-nitrosodimethylamine  Which are considered among the substances that are likely to be carcinogenic (according to the International Cancer Research Agency) in the event of exposure to them in quantities more than the acceptable limits for daily consumption for very long periods; From an early time, the authority carried out regular checks to ensure the quality and safety of marketed pharmaceutical preparations by analyzing a number of preparations that contain the active ingredient ( Metformin).Which are sold in the Saudi market, and until the date of preparing this statement an analysis of a number of preparations that have been proven not to be contaminated with NDMA impurities has been completed Or the impurities are within the acceptable limits for daily consumption, which are the following products:

WARNINGS FROM SFDA

As a usual result of the Saudi Foods and Drugs Authority’s regular market inspection, below is a list of warned products that are not complying with the Saudi standards and requirements

SFDA MARKET INSPECTION RESULTED 29 FINES IN 13 DIFFERENT CITIES

The below list explains the locations and number of products found either expired, not compliant or illegally sold in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

ABBATTOIR WASTE IS NOT ALLOWED FOR FODDER USAGE IN KSA

SFDA has announced an explanation in regards to the abattoirs (slaughterhouses)’ waste, not to be used as fodder in the kingdom, and the abattoirs who wish to export can contact SFDA team through fes.food@sfda.gov.sa 

JOHNSON & JOHNSON BABY POWDER TALC DOESN’T CONTAIN
‘’ASBESTOS’’

SFDA has confirmed that the Baby Powder Talc ‘’Johnson & Johnson’’, which is been being sold in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia doesn’t contain ‘’Asbestos’’ which is one of the prohibited materials as per the SFDA safety requirements. and what has been circulated in the market about the mentioned product are just rumors

SASO QUALITY MARK IS MANDATORY

NEW REQUIREMENTS BY SASO FOR ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS
 

SASO has confirmed that, Cord-extension Sets, Plugs and Sockets -which used to be sufficient to obtain G-Mark- are now mandated to be SASO Quality Mark Certified, as they have been updated to come under type-5 of SABER/SALEEM System.

SASO has also announced the timeline to comply with the new requirements
 

* The above products that have obtained a G-Mark will be granted the SASO Quality Mark license directly without going through the SQM Assessment Scheme.

7560 IECEE CERTIFICATES WERE ISSUED DURING 2019
 

SASO has announced that 7560 IECEE certificates has been issued during 2019 for the high-risk products as follows

ARE YOU AN EXPERT OR A SPECIALIST?

DO YOU WISH TO BE A PART OF SASO STANDARDS?

YOUR OPINION MATTERS!

SASO invites you to participate with your suggestions and recommendations in standards and technical regulations (the following 31 standards are still active for your opinion)

• Measurement of fluid flow in closed conduits - Ultrasonic meters for gas - Part 2: Meters for industrial applications
   
• Quantities and units - Part 5: Thermodynamic
   
• Metallic materials - Brinell hardness test - Part 4: Table of hardness values
   
• Standard Practices for Calibration and Verification for Force-Measuring Instruments
   
• Measurement of fluid flow in closed conduits - Part 1: Ultrasonic meters for gas - Meters for custody transfer and allocation measurement
   
• Metallic materials - Brinell hardness test - Part 3: Calibration of reference blocks
   
• Measurement of fluid flow by means of pressure differential devices inserted in circular cross-section conduits running
   
• Measurement of fluid flow by means of pressure differential devices inserted in circular cross-section conduits running
   
• Face mask for Non-medical use
   
• Metal Cutting Oils
   
• Liquid carpet shampoos
   
• LUBRICATING OILS FOR AIR COMPRESSORS AND VACUUM PUMPS
   
• SPECIFICATION FOR THERMOPLASTIC WATER METER CABIENT
   
• Synthetic Detergents – Household Synthetic Detergents Power
   
• Wind energy generation systems – Part 26-1: Availability for wind energy generation systems
   
• LIMITS AND METHODS OF MEASUREMENT OF RADIO DISTURBANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF ELECTRICAL LIGHTING AND SIMILAR EQUIPMENT
   
• Wind energy generation systems – Part 25-71: Communications for monitoring and control of wind power plants – Configuration description language
   
• Wind energy generation systems – Part 24: Lightning protection
   
• Wind energy generation systems – Part 21-3: Measurement and assessment of electrical characteristics – Wind turbine harmonic model and its ap
   
• Wind energy generation systems – Part 21-1: Measurement and assessment of electrical characteristics – Wind turbines
   
•  Wind energy generation systems – Part 21-1: Measurement and assessment of electrical characteristics – Wind turbines
   
• Wind energy generation systems – Part 3-2: Design requirements for floating offshore wind turbines
   
• Wind energy generation systems – Part 3-1: Design requirements for fixed offshore wind turbines
   
• Wind energy generation systems – Part 1: Design requirements
   
• AVIATION TURBINE FUELS
   
• PREMIUM GRADE GASOLINE (ULTRA LOW SULFUR)
   
• Standard Specification for Viscosity-Graded Asphalt Binder for Use in Pavement Construction
   
• DIESEL FUEL (ULTRA LOW SULFUR)
   
• SANITARY APPLIANCES — TAPWARE: METHODS OF TEST FOR SHOWER AND SPRAY HOSES
   
• Standard Specification for Performance Graded Asphalt Binder
   
• SANITARY APPLIANCES — TAPWARE: SHOWER AND SPRAY HOSES

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