Saudi Arabia sets new rules for fruit and vegetable imports

In a move to regulate fruit and vegetable imports, Saudi Arabia has established new rules encompassing a 15-day validity for import permits and mandatory approval before shipments reach the country. These guidelines, approved by Minister of Commerce Dr Majid Al Qasabi, come into effect within 30 days.

Importers are required to secure an import permit at least 24 hours prior to a shipment's arrival at the port. The shipment cannot be dispatched until approval is granted. Goods arriving without a valid permit will be rejected, and the importer is held accountable.

To comply, businesses must possess an import licence from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, along with a commercial registration that reflects their activity. Every invoice must list all imported products, and import permit applications must be completed without skipping any mandatory fields.

Imported fruits and vegetables must be free from pesticide residues or contain residues within the permissible limits as per the Saudi Food and Drug Authority's standards. The rules also mandate that shipments be free from pests listed in Saudi Arabia’s agricultural quarantine lists. Importers can submit an electronic phytosanitary certificate, which should include a QR code or verification link.

A certificate of origin, shipping documents, and a customs certificate must accompany the application. Import applications should be submitted through the Nama platform, with authorities having a maximum of seven working days to process each request. If a request is rejected, applicants have 15 days to appeal to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.

The new rules also impose a 90-day limit for the stay of Gulf-registered vehicles from August 26.