Printable Version Saudi Arabian Customs announce strict country of origin and manufacture requirements

The Saudi Arabia Customs authority has given strict directives that the “Country of Origin/Made In “declaration must be detailed (either engraved or affixed with a non-removable sticker) on each item in a shipment and should also be printed on the boxes/cartons in which the goods are packed.

For shipments that require a Certificate of Origin, the “Country of Origin/Made In” details must also be clearly mentioned on that document.  For shipments originating from countries within the European Union, the exact country of origin in which the item was produced must be mentioned on both the item itself and the Certificate of Origin, if applicable. It is specifically unacceptable to mention EUROPEAN UNION or EU in/on the “Country of Origin/Made In” details. If a shipment contains items from various countries, then each item should show its country of origin.

If a shipment arrives without “Country of Origin/Made In” details, the shipment will be returned to the origin at the shipper’s cost without prior notice.

These new regulations which came into force on February 1st 2009 apply to shipments arriving at all ports of entry in Saudi Arabia including Jeddah, Dammam and Riyadh.