SAUDI ARABIA PUBLISHES NEW TECHNICAL REGULATIONS FOR TEXTILE PRODUCTS

The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) published the Official Gazette for the “Technical Regulations of Textile Products” on 24 August 2018. The implementation of the new SASO technical regulations for textile products will be on 23 February 2019.

The published Technical Regulation [13.02.1439H – (24.8.2018)] is currently prepared for the formal accreditation and mandatory application on textile products. The regulation identifies the basic requirements for textile products and determines conformity assessment procedures that suppliers must comply with during the presentation and placement of textile products onto the market in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and also this has been done to ensure environmental protection and consumer’s health and safety.

The Technical Regulation applies to all textile products when made available in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA):

• Products containing at least 80% by weight of      textile fibres (including textile components of curtains, furniture,      carpets, clothing, technical fabrics and textiles)

• Furniture, umbrella and sunshade coverings      containing at least 80% by weight of textile components

• Textile components of:

• The upper layer of the multi-layered floor covering

• Mattress covers

• Coverings of camping equipment and goods, provided      that the components constitute at least 80% by weight of such upper layers      or coverings

• Textiles incorporated in other products and forming      an integral part thereof, including footwear, bags and head-covers 

Note: Products designed for medical purposes or medical claims, as they fall under the requirements and regulations of Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), are excluded from these Technical Regulations.

Mandatory labelling Requirements:

• Label content on the product and its packaging and      in all technical documents which accompany its marketing, must conform      with the technical requirements listed in the Technical Regulations and      with the relevant standard specifications.

• The information on the label shall be legible,      visible, clear and in a character set which is uniform regarding its size,      style and font, written in Arabic and or in Arabic and English, shall be      inerasable and easy to read for the consumer before the purchase,      including when the purchase is made through electronic means.

• The label shall be sewn or firmly attached to the      products without easy removal and in a position that is commonly used in      the textile industry.

• All information on the labels must be correct and      affixed.

• Labels shall not include any Quranic verses or the      word of majesty and images and words used on the packaging shall not      violate public order, public morality and the Islamic values prevailing in      KSA.

• The labelling shall include the following      information:

• Fibre composition, described by the name listed       in the regulation and allowed by mass percentage, in accordance to the       relevant standard specifications defied in Annex (4)

• Product weight, size or dimension

• Supplier name and commercial registration on the       external packaging

• Country of origin

• Care instructions

The Technical Regulations also specify the related requirements for the protection of the environment and the health of the consumer against risks from colour fastness of physical properties and chemicals used in textile products when they are in direct contact with skin or close to it. The listed chemical substances are classified as CMR, vPvB, PBT, as well as a broad set of substances including formaldehyde, phenols, heavy metals, hazardous dyes, flame retardants, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chlorinated organic compounds, phthalates and organotin compounds.

The supplier, who is responsible to put the product in the market, shall obtain a certificate of conformity issued by a notified body according to the following product types:

• Type 3 for children’s products and underwear

• Type A1 for textile products other than children’s      products and underwear

The following technical documentations shall be provided with the textile products:

• Conformity declaration of the supplier (manufacturer      / importer) in accordance with Annex 12 of the Technical Regulations.

• Product Safety Test Report regarding safety from      hazardous chemicals.

The supplier shall cooperate with the Regulatory Bodies and with Market Surveillance Authorities. For example, providing the technical document, test reports and any other documented information proving fulfilment of the requirements of the Technical Regulations. A product with the Saudi Quality Mark or equivalent shall be treated as meeting the requirements. Also, a product with the Eco-Label or equivalent, granted from an approved body by the Authority, shall be treated as complying with the requirements as well.

The SASO Technical Regulations on textile products was published on August 24, 2018 and the implementation will take place on February 23, 2019.

Reference: Technical Regulation of Textile Products [1] (in Arabic)