G/SPS/N/SAU/435  
 
23 September 2020  
(20-6440) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Food products in general  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia/ Expiration dates for food 
products  - Part 1: Mandatory expiration dates . Language(s):  Arabic . Number of 
pages:  11 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/SPS/SAU/20_5677_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content:  This draft technical regulation is concerned with the maximum 
shelf life permitted for food products likely to perish under appropriate packaging and 
specific storage conditions. It also establishes the most important requirements for shelf 
life labelling  of all food products.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international s tandard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged 
Foods CXS 1.  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:   G/SPS/N/SAU/435  
 
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  10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : Sixty days from date of publication.  
Proposed date of public ation (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [X]  Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) :  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 22 November 2020  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
Saudi Food and Drug Authority  
SFDA - 4904 North Ring branch rd - Hitteen Dist Unit Number (1) - Riyadh 13513 - 7148 
Tel: +(966 11) 275 9222, Ext. 3158  
Fax: +(966 11) 210 9825  
E-mail: SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa   
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fa x number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Saudi Food and Drug Authority  
SFDA - 4904 North Ring branch rd - Hitteen Dist Unit Number (1) - Riyadh 13513 - 7148 
Tel: +(966 11) 275 9222, Ext. 3158  
Fax: +(966 11) 210 9825  
E-mail: SPSEP.Food@sfda.gov.sa   
Website: http://www.sfda.gov.sa