SGS has positioned itself as a key partner for international cosmetics brands seeking to enter the Saudi market, helping them to comply with the new SFDA regulations.
With the recent evolution of regulations in Saudi Arabia for cosmetics, personal care and perfumery products, SGS is strengthening its support for international exporters. As a conformity assessment body approved by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), SGS offers guidance and certification services to ensure regulatory compliance and facilitate access to dynamic Middle Eastern markets.
New regulatory requirements for the cosmetics industry
The cosmetics sector in Saudi Arabia is undergoing rapid expansion, accompanied by increased regulatory requirements aimed at ensuring product safety and quality. Important updates to the SFDA include revised conformity assessment procedures and an expanded list of prohibited ingredients. Exporters must now provide precise documentation and comply fully before shipping their products. The Certificate of Conformity (CoC) remains a central requirement for all cosmetic shipments. Any shipment that does not comply with SFDA standards, or arrives without a valid CoC, will be detained by Saudi customs.
Ensuring compliance and trust
SGS uses its SFDA-approved status to assess shipments against the latest regulations, checking technical documentation, labeling compliance and product registration details, supporting exporters in meeting mandatory criteria. Recent regulatory changes have also introduced stricter inspection protocols and staggered deadlines for products containing new restricted substances, often requiring immediate reformulation and re-evaluation.
Thanks to its expertise in conformity assessment, SGS offers exporters solutions for:
- Clear regulatory navigation thanks to continuous monitoring of SFDA updates
- Efficient certification to protect launch schedules and commercial deadlines
- SGS-issued CoCs support product acceptance and reinforce retailer and consumer confidence.
