Saudi Arabia Sets New Import Conditions for Fruits and Vegetables

Saudi Arabia has established new conditions for the importation of fruits and vegetables, as announced by the relevant authorities. The new regulations, approved by Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi, include a validity period of 15 days for import permits from the date of issuance. These regulations will be enforced 30 days from the announcement date. Importers are required to obtain an import permit at least 24 hours before the shipment arrives at the port of entry, and shipments cannot be dispatched until approval is granted. Shipments arriving without a permit will be rejected, with the importer held fully responsible. Importers must have a license issued by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and a commercial registration suitable for their business type. Imported items must be listed on the invoice, and all mandatory fields in the import permit application must be completed. Shipments must be free of pesticide residues or contain residues within limits set by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. They must also be free of pests listed in the Kingdom’s quarantine pest lists. An electronic copy of the phytosanitary certificate, including a QR code or verification link, is required alongside other shipping documents. Import applications are submitted via the 'Nama' platform, with a maximum processing time of seven working days. Rejected applicants may appeal to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture within 15 days of notification.