Article 18 of the Saudi Product Safety Law
المادة 18 من نظام سلامة المنتجات · الباب الرابع: التزامات السلامة الخاصة
The manufacturer, authorized representative and importer placing a product subject to a technical regulation must assess its conformity, engage an accepted body where needed, prepare a technical file, issue a declaration of conformity and affix the conformity mark.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يلتزم الصانع والممثل المعتمد والمستورد، الذي يضع في الأسواق منتجًا يخضع للائحة فنية، بما يأتي:
1- تقييم مدى مطابقة المنتج للمتطلبات من خلال تطبيق إجراء تقويم المطابقة؛ وفقًا للوائح أو اللوائح الفنية.
2- تكليف إحدى الجهات المقبولة إذا لزم تدخل جهة تقويم المطابقة في إجراء تقويم المطابقة.
3- أن يعد ملفًّا فنيًّا كاملًا يشتمل على جميع الوثائق اللازمة لإثبات أن المنتج يتوافق مع المتطلبات المنصوص عليها في اللوائح الفنية.
4- إصدار إقرار مطابقة يؤكد فيه -تحت مسؤوليته الخاصة -أن المنتج يتوافق مع جميع المتطلبات، بما في ذلك تلك المنصوص عليها في اللوائح الفنية.
5- وضع شارة المطابقة الوطنية أو الإقليمية على المنتج؛ وفقاً للإجراءات والشروط المنصوص عليها في اللوائح.
تحدد اللوائح مسؤوليات وواجبات كل من الصانع والممثل المعتمد والمستورد وفقاً لما جاء في حكم هذه المادة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 18 explained in plain English
This article sets the specific obligations of whoever places on the markets a product subject to a technical regulation, and they fall on the manufacturer, the authorized representative and the importer:
- Conformity assessment: assessing the product's conformity with the requirements by applying the conformity assessment procedure under the regulations or the technical regulations.
- Engaging an accepted body if the involvement of a conformity assessment body in the procedure is required.
- Preparing a complete technical file containing all the documents needed to prove the product's compliance with the requirements of the technical regulations.
- Issuing a declaration of conformity in which it confirms, on its own responsibility, the product's compliance with all the requirements.
- Affixing the national or regional conformity mark to the product in accordance with the procedures and conditions of the regulations.
The article refers to the regulations the setting of the responsibilities and duties of each of them according to their provision.
Under Article 1: conformity assessment is verifying the product's compliance with the requirements and essential requirements, and its procedures include calibration, testing, certification and inspection. Accepted bodies are conformity assessment bodies accepted by the Authority. The declaration of conformity is a document issued by the party responsible for placing the product, before placing it, in which it attests on its own responsibility that the product meets the requirements.
It is preceded by Article 17, which sets the content of the technical regulations, and followed by Article 19, which requires conformity assessment to be assigned to an accepted body if the technical regulations so require. An importer arranging these documents would do well to consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial cases.
Practical example
A company in Riyadh imports children's toys that are subject to a technical regulation. Before putting them on the markets it must assess their conformity, engage an accepted body if the regulation requires it, prepare a complete technical file, issue a declaration of conformity on its own responsibility, and affix the conformity mark to the toys.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 18 of the Saudi Product Safety Law
What is required to place a product subject to a technical regulation on the market?
Assessing its conformity, engaging an accepted body when its involvement is required, preparing a complete technical file, issuing a declaration of conformity on its own responsibility, and affixing the conformity mark in accordance with the regulations.
What is a declaration of conformity?
A document issued by the party responsible for placing the product on the market, before placing it, in which it attests on its own responsibility that the product meets the requirements.
What does the technical file contain?
All the documents needed to prove that the product complies with the requirements stated in the technical regulations.
More articles on Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment
- Article 6
A product is safe if it presents no hazard or its risks are acceptable in normal use, with the essential requirements and technical regulations met; otherwise by conforming to Saudi, regional or international standards.
1- يكون المنتج آمنًا إذا كان استخدامه -في ظل ظروف الاستخدام العادية- لا يمثل خطرًا، أو يمكن أن تنشأ عنه مخاطر مقبولة ومتوافقة مع مستويات السلامة المحددة -التي ت
- Article 17
The technical regulations must include what verifies a product's safety, including the essential requirements, reference to standards, risk assessment, conformity assessment, consumer information, documents and marks.
يجب أن تتضمن اللوائح الفنية جميع المعلومات والمتطلبات التي يتحقق من خلالها من سلامة المنتج للاستخدام أو الاستهلاك، وأن يكون من بينها ما يأتي: 1- المتطلبات الأسا
- Article 19
If the technical regulations require a conformity assessment body to carry out a specified assessment, the party responsible for placing the product on the market must assign the task to one of the accepted bodies.
في حال فرضت اللوائح الفنية ذات الصلة بالمنتج تدخل جهة تقويم المطابقة لإجراء تقويم مطابقة محدد؛ فيجب على المسؤول عن وضع المنتج في السوق أن يسند مهمة إجراء تقويم
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.