Latest news with #SaudiStandards
Time of India
04-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Saudi Arabia's latest rules: Strict new regulations for private food laboratories in 2025
Saudi Arabia's new rules for private food laboratories/Representative Image TL;DR: Saudi Arabia 's Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has issued new regulations for food laboratory operations, introducing strict spatial, technical, and visual standards to improve food safety, urban compliance, and investment conditions. The rules apply to private and conformity-assessment food labs, setting requirements for lab size, parking, appearance, and location while exempting government labs. Measures include banning visible wiring/air-conditioning units on facades, mandating at least 100sqm for labs, and locating labs within urban boundaries, all to raise quality and safety standards. In a significant regulatory shift, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has introduced stringent new rules for private food laboratories, marking a proactive step to elevate food safety and urban standards across the Kingdom. In a statement on Sunday, the ministry said the new rules apply to laboratories that conduct food testing and measurements under defined standard conditions, whether operating independently or as part of a conformity assessment body. Key features of the new regulations Scope and Applicability: The updated rules govern all laboratories engaged in food testing and measurements carried out under standardized conditions. This applies whether labs are operating independently or as part of a conformity assessment body. However, facilities managed by Saudi government bodies such as the Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization are explicitly exempt from these requirements . Spatial and Technical Requirements: Food laboratories must now operate only within officially recognized urban areas, directly supporting urban planning objectives and reducing potential negative impacts like noise or visual pollution. There is a strict prohibition against any external environmental or visual nuisances . Key technical and spatial standards: The minimum space for any laboratory facility, whether inside an existing building or as an independent site is set at 100 square meters. Standalone labs must provide a minimum of one dedicated parking space for every 25 square meters of total space, making client and staff access easier and managing urban congestion . Aesthetic and Safety Standards: The Ministry's rules extend to the visible appearance of laboratories. New criteria strictly forbid any visible electrical wiring or external air-conditioning equipment on building facades or rooftops, reinforcing high safety, quality, and aesthetic standards for all lab buildings . Objectives These reforms are part of broader efforts to: Harness urban policy to raise overall quality of life; Foster a more compliant and attractive investment climate for food-related industries; Ensure that consumer food safety and laboratory testing standards align with the Kingdom's health and urban development strategies The reforms aim to align with broader goals of improving the urban environment and raising Saudi Arabia's profile as an attractive, investment-friendly destination for food and health-related enterprises. The Ministry emphasized that these standards are designed to promote both public health and better quality of urban life. With these robust new regulations, Saudi Arabia is strengthening its food safety framework and urban quality of life, ensuring private food labs meet the highest operational and aesthetic standards. Exemptions for government-controlled laboratories support efficient national oversight, while the private sector is positioned to grow in a more strictly regulated, investor-friendly environment.
Zawya
04-08-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia issues new regulations for food laboratory operations
RIYADH — The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has introduced new regulatory requirements for food laboratories as part of its efforts to improve the urban environment, enhance quality of life, boost compliance, and support the investment climate while ensuring the highest standards of food safety and quality. In a statement on Sunday, the ministry said the new rules apply to laboratories that conduct food testing and measurements under defined standard conditions, whether operating independently or as part of a conformity assessment body. Government laboratories, such as those run by the Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization, are exempt. The regulations set out several spatial and technical requirements, including operating within urban boundaries, avoiding environmental or visual pollution, providing at least one parking space for every 25 square meters of total site area for standalone facilities, and maintaining a minimum laboratory space of 100 square meters, whether inside an existing building or at an independent site. Additional requirements address building facades and overall appearance, notably prohibiting visible electrical wiring or external air-conditioning units on building facades or rooftops, in line with approved safety and quality standards. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Saudi Gazette
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Saudi Gazette
SASO urges vehicle importers to verify compliance before shipping to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) has called on individual importers of new and used vehicles to ensure their vehicles comply with Saudi standards before shipping them to the Kingdom through the vehicle import service. SASO offers this service through the electronic 'Saber' platform, which enables importers to obtain a vehicle import consignment certificate to ensure compliance of vehicles and motorcycles with relevant technical regulations. This helps avoid returning non-compliant vehicles to the country of shipment, thereby improving the efficiency of the import process and saving importers time, effort, and money.
Saudi Gazette
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi and Chinese officials discuss consumer complaints in auto sector
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Ministry of Commerce held a joint meeting with representatives from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the Chinese Embassy in Saudi Arabia to discuss urgent consumer-related challenges in the Kingdom's fast-growing Chinese automotive sector. The session, which also included participation from the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), focused on identifying solutions to enhance consumer protection and improve after-sales services provided by Chinese car dealers and manufacturers operating in the Saudi market. Officials reviewed the current and projected growth of Chinese vehicle sales in the Kingdom, along with persistent consumer complaints related to after-sales performance and service quality. The goal, according to the Ministry, is to elevate customer experience and ensure Chinese automotive brands meet local standards as demand continues to rise. The meeting also explored avenues for cooperation between Saudi and Chinese entities to streamline regulatory processes and ensure a robust consumer rights framework in light of the increasing footprint of Chinese vehicles in Saudi Arabia.
ArabGT
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- ArabGT
The 21 Automotive Companies Facing a Temporary Ban in Saudi Arabia
Official authorities in Saudi Arabia have announced a ban on vehicles from 21 automotive companies entering the local market due to their failure to submit 2025 supply plans within the specified timeframe. This move aligns with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals, as the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), in collaboration with the General Authority for Ports (Mawani), seeks to regulate the flow of goods and vehicles into the market. The aim is to organize the automotive sector and improve energy efficiency in transportation through the application of energy-saving design and construction standards, while also reducing carbon emissions and promoting environmental sustainability nationwide. In an official circular addressed to shipping agents and all port operators, the General Authority for Ports stated that the ban was based on directives from SASO regarding the companies' failure to submit their 2025 supply plans. The decision targets new light vehicles under 3.5 tons. This action will remain temporary until the companies comply by submitting their plans, with a final deadline set for the end of the current year. SASO noted that the full list of affected companies will be published on the Saudi Energy Efficiency Program (SEEP) portal and updated regularly based on company responses. This regulation aims to enhance energy efficiency in the transport sector—especially for small cars and light trucks—under the Saudi Corporate Average Fuel Economy (Saudi CAFE) standard. This standard forms part of a broader national energy strategy. It is based on a technology-neutral approach to ensure fair, sustainable competition while accommodating consumer preferences and market diversity. It calculates target fuel consumption averages at the company level, based on vehicle usage and type, which helps preserve variety without compromising performance or market sustainability. While the list includes several well-known global brands, others may be less familiar to the general public. Below is a brief introduction to the 21 companies affected by the temporary ban: List of the 21 Banned Automotive Companies Luxgen Motor Co., Ltd. A Taiwanese automaker founded in 2008 and owned by the Yulon Group. Known for integrating smart tech into its vehicles, Luxgen markets itself under the slogan 'Think Ahead,' targeting the mid-range luxury segment. Hawtai Motor Group A Chinese company established in 2000, known for producing SUVs and passenger cars. It formerly partnered with Hyundai (2002–2010), gaining technical expertise still used in its current lineup. Greenkar Auto Tech Co., Ltd. A technical services provider specializing in vehicle testing and certification. Focuses on commercial and modified vehicles, operating under both European and Chinese quality standards. Zotye International Automobile Trading Co., Ltd. The international trading arm of Zotye Auto, focused on exporting vehicles and parts, especially to the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, offering affordable automotive solutions. Higer Bus Company Limited Founded in 1998 in Suzhou, China, Higer is a leading bus manufacturer exporting to over 100 countries. Known for advanced safety and comfort features across various bus types. Beijing Borgward Automotive Co., Ltd. Reviving the historic German brand Borgward, this Chinese-owned company blends European design with modern Chinese technology to produce stylish SUVs. Qoros Automotive Co., Ltd. A joint venture founded in 2007 between Chery and international partners, Qoros produces Euro-standard cars designed with European engineering input. Koenigsegg Automotive AB A Swedish hypercar manufacturer founded in 1994 by Christian von Koenigsegg. Famous for record-breaking, ultra-high-performance cars built with proprietary technologies. Lifan Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. Founded in 1992, initially as a motorcycle manufacturer, Lifan now produces budget-friendly cars and light commercial vehicles, mainly targeting emerging markets. Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Co., Ltd. Established in 1992, the company builds luxury buses and light commercial vehicles, widely used in public transportation, education, and tourism sectors. Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd. One of China's oldest and largest bus manufacturers, founded in 1988. Operates in over 120 countries and provides comprehensive public and private transport solutions. Brilliance Auto International Trade Corporation The export arm of Brilliance Auto, known for a past joint venture with BMW. Its vehicles are recognized for modern design and competitive pricing. South East (Fujian) Motor Corp., Ltd. A joint venture established in 1995 between China Motor and Fujian Motors. It assembles Mitsubishi models and is known for reliable and affordable vehicles. McLaren Automotive A British maker of high-performance sports cars based in Woking, UK. McLaren transitioned from Formula 1 to road cars, known for cutting-edge technology and distinctive design. Tata Motors Ltd. India's largest automaker, founded in 1945. Produces a wide range of vehicles and owns Jaguar and Land Rover. Recently expanding into the EV sector. CHTC Motor Co., Ltd. Part of the China Hi-Tech Group, it manufactures heavy-duty trucks and construction vehicles, with a focus on Belt and Road infrastructure markets. Jiangxi Dorcen Automobile Co., Ltd. A newer Chinese automaker founded in 2018, offering SUVs and pickup trucks with strong value propositions and growing international ambitions. BAIC Yinxiang Automobile Co., Ltd. A joint venture between BAIC Group and Yinxiang, founded in 2010, producing budget SUVs aimed at young drivers and small families. Baoding Changan Bus Manufacturing Co., Ltd. A subsidiary of Changan, specializing in bus production for public and private transport, widely used in Chinese cities and government projects. SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Co., Ltd. A joint venture between SAIC, GM, and Wuling. One of China's top automakers, best known for the highly popular Wuling Mini EV. DFSK Motor Co., Ltd. A joint venture between Dongfeng and Sokon, producing compact commercial vehicles and modern SUVs under the Fengon brand, with broad international presence.
