G/TBT/W/762  
 
18 November  2021 
(21-8719) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
 
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA - SABER CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT ONLINE PLATFORM / 
SALEEM PRODUCT SAFETY PROGRAM ( STC ID 615)   
TECHNICAL STATEMENT  BY THE UNITED STATES TO THE COMMITTEE ON  
TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE  
10–12 NOVEMBER 2021  
The following communication, dated 12 November 2021 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the United States . 
 
_______________  
 
 
1.  The United States brings our concerns for Saudi Arabia 's SABER CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT 
ONLINE PLATFORM/SALEEM P RODUCT SAFETY PROGRAM to the Committee today to find resolution 
to our concerns regarding the lack of clarity in Saudi Arabia 's conformity assessment program 
covering 40 technical regulations1 for a wide range of goods, including construction materials, 
electrical products, saws, textiles, and toys. Despite having raised concerns for this program in the 
last five WTO TBT Committee meetings, with the EU and Switzerland our concerns have gone 
unresolved.  
2.  SABER is an online system that was introduced by Saudi  Arabia Standards, Metrology, and 
Quality Organization (SASO), to operate the SALEEM program. SABER enables exporters, importers 
and local manufacturers to electronically obtain the required Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) 
and Shipment Certificate  of Conformity (SCoC) for their products. The PCoC is type -approval for 
medium - and high -risk products that are governed by mandatory technical regulations and the SCoC 
is required for other products not needing type approval, whether they are regulated or  not. 
3.  First, this mandatory conformity assessment program has never been notified to the WTO for a 
notice and comment period, despite repeated requests for notification, including our most recent 
request for information on 1 February 2021.2 We ask that Saudi Arabia notify this program for WTO 
Member comment.  
4.  Second , the registration and certification process remain unnecessarily complex and time -
consuming for our exporters.  We request Saudi Arabia simplify the registration and certification 
process and implement clear and transparent guidelines.  
5.  Third, industries report that the HS codes on the Saber system, including those listed on Saber's 
website, often do not match international HS codes. Can the SASO provide the list of products, using 
complete HS Codes having 10 digits, for which SASO will require third -party certification and new 
certificates of conformity instead of self -declarations?  
6.  Fourth , how to obtain the Gulf Conformity Tracking Symbol (GCTS) remains confusing. T he 
United States requests Saudi Arabia clarify the documentation requirements for manufacturers when 
they apply to Notified Bodies to obtain the Gulf Conformity Tracking Symbol (GCTS) mark and 
registration number required under Saber.  
 
1 The list of 40 technical regulations for which compliance is mandatory is on the SABER PLATFORM at 
https://saber.sa/home/regulations  
2 Via the USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, 1 February 2021  G/TBT/W/762  
 
- 2 - 
 
  7.  Last, manufacturers report conformity assessment procedures required in the technical 
regulations implemented by notified bodies is not consistent. How is SASO working to ensure that 
all Notified Bodies implement the conformity assessment procedures in the same manner?  
8.  We tha nk you for your time and consideration of this matter, and look forward to the response 
from Saudi Arabia.  
__________