SABER Labeling Changes October 1, 2026: What Importers Must Change
August 23, 2026
On October 1, 2026, a new SASO labeling rule takes effect in Saudi Arabia — and importers who don’t adjust their packaging now will watch certificates get refused at the worst possible moment: with goods already on the water. Under SASO Circular 247, products covered by ten technical regulations must display the supplier’s name and Commercial Registration (CR) number directly on the product label. Here’s exactly what changes, which products are affected, and what to do before your next purchase order.
TL;DR
- Effective October 1, 2026: labels must show supplier name (importer or local manufacturer) + CR number, per SASO Circular 247.
- Applies to products under 10 technical regulations — LPG tank trucks, watercraft, trailers, e-scooters, pressure vessels, child restraints & strollers, building materials part 3, solar PV systems, and electrical lifts.
- No compliant labeling → no Certificate of Conformity → no SABER clearance. Full stop.
- Action: confirm your importer-of-record’s name + CR number NOW and get it printed before production ends.
Enforcement date — conformity bodies will not issue CoCs for non-compliant labels after this date
What Exactly Changes
SASO (the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization) issued Circular 247 directing all accredited conformity assessment bodies to verify two new data points on product labels before issuing any Certificate of Conformity:
- Supplier name — the Saudi importer of record, or the local manufacturer for domestically produced goods.
- Commercial Registration (CR) number — that supplier’s official Saudi commercial registration.
The circular operates under the Product Safety Law (Article 11) and its Executive Regulations (Article 19). From October 1, 2026, SASO will not issue a CoC for any covered product whose label lacks this information — and SABER platform checks plus random technical-file reviews will enforce it.
Which Products Are in Scope
The rule covers ten technical regulations:
| # | SASO Technical Regulation |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tank Products Part 2 — LPG tank trucks |
| 2 | Boats and watercraft |
| 3 | Tank Products Part 1 — petroleum transport tank trucks |
| 4 | Trailers and semi-trailers |
| 5 | Electrical self-balancing boards / scooters (hoverboards) |
| 6 | Simple pressure vessels |
| 7 | Child restraint systems and strollers |
| 8 | Building Materials Part 3 — hydraulic binders/links |
| 9 | Solar photovoltaic systems |
| 10 | Electrical lifts/elevators for buildings |
FYI
If your product is NOT under one of these ten regulations, the Circular 247 marking rule doesn’t apply to you today — but SASO’s direction of travel is clear: supplier identification on labels is becoming the norm across technical regulations. Building compliance into your standard artwork now avoids a repeat scramble later.
Who Is Responsible for What
The Saudi importer (or local manufacturer)
Your name and CR number go on the label — so the artwork decision is yours. Provide exact legal text (registered trade name as it appears on the CR certificate) to your factory; abbreviations and mismatches create rejection risk at the CB review stage.
The Chinese manufacturer
Printing execution: correct placement, durability, legibility per the applicable technical regulation. Label changes cost money and lead time if raised mid-production — lock artwork approval into your PO before mass production starts.
The conformity assessment body
Verifies label compliance during assessment and refuses certification for non-compliant products from October 1 onward. SASO audits CBs through SABER platform sampling to keep them honest.
The Failure Mode This Prevents
Picture the timeline without preparation: container loaded in Ningbo in late September, sails October 2. Your SCoC application goes in — and the CB checks the label against Circular 247. No CR number printed? No certificate. The shipment arrives at Jeddah with no path to clearance, racking up demurrage while you print stickers nobody accepts as “permanently indicated on the product.” Rework at destination is expensive or impossible; return shipping can exceed cargo value.
Common Mistake
Treating this as a sticker problem. SASO requires the information permanently indicated on the product per the relevant technical regulation’s labeling provisions. Stick-on labels applied post-factory may not satisfy durability requirements depending on the regulation — confirm acceptable marking method with your CB before production.
Your Action Checklist Before October 1
- Check scope — does your product fall under one of the ten listed regulations?
- Fix the label text — obtain your importer’s registered name + CR number exactly as registered.
- Update artwork with your factory — approve final label proofs; add to the golden sample.
- Brief your CB — confirm they’ve built the verification step into assessment; ask what evidence they want to see.
- Sequence shipments — goods produced before Oct 1 but clearing after face the new gate; talk timing with your forwarder.
- Document everything — keep labeled-product photos in your SABER technical file; random reviews check these files.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new Saudi Arabia labeling requirement effective October 2026?
Under SASO Circular 247, from October 1, 2026, products covered by ten specific technical regulations must display the supplier’s name (Saudi importer or local manufacturer) and their Commercial Registration (CR) number on the product label. Conformity bodies must verify this before issuing Certificates of Conformity, and non-compliant products cannot clear through SABER.
Which products need the supplier name and CR number on labels?
The rule covers ten SASO technical regulations: LPG tank trucks, boats/watercraft, petroleum tank trucks, trailers and semi-trailers, electric scooters/hoverboards, simple pressure vessels, child restraint systems and strollers, building materials part 3 (hydraulic binders), solar PV systems, and building elevators/lifts.
Do existing stock and in-transit shipments need relabeling?
The requirement binds certification from October 1, 2026 — any covered product seeking its CoC after that date needs compliant labeling, including goods still in transit or awaiting certification. Goods already certified and cleared before the date aren’t retroactively relabeled, but plan reorder timelines accordingly.
How do I get my CR number onto Chinese factory labels correctly?
Provide your factory the exact registered trade name and CR number as shown on the commercial registration certificate, have them update the approved label artwork, and require a photo proof of the printed label against the golden sample before mass production completes. Your conformity body confirms acceptability during assessment.
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