In force
Saudi Standards and Quality Law
نظام المواصفات والجودة
Sets the framework for standardization and quality in Saudi Arabia, including standards, quality marks and inspection. It has 24 articles and concerns producers, importers and traders.
- Articles
- 24
- In force
- 24
- Amended
- 0
- Issued
- 29/1/1446 AH
Issued by: مرسوم ملكي رقم (م/36) وتاريخ 1446/1/29هـ · قرار مجلس الوزراء رقم (93) وتاريخ 1446/1/24هـ
Each article shows the official Arabic text, which is the only legally binding version, followed by our plain-English explanation.
Browse Standards and Quality Law by topic
Standardization Objectives and Principles4 articlesPowers of the Saudi Authority for Standards2 articlesPreparing and Approving a Saudi Standard5 articlesReviewing and Applying a Standard2 articlesQuality Mark4 articlesInspection and Recording of Violations3 articlesPenalties for Violating the Quality Mark4 articles
Articles of the Saudi Standards and Quality Law
الباب الأول: التعريفاتArticles 1–1
الباب الثاني: أحكام عامةArticles 2–6
- Article 2The aim of the Standards and Quality Law is to set and define a general framework for standardization and quality.
- Article 3The article sets seven guiding principles for standardization, including participation of relevant bodies, transparency, compliance with international agreements, and non-discrimination between local and imported products.
- Article 4The article sets the main aims of standardization, including protecting life, health, safety and the environment, protecting the consumer, promoting competitiveness and fair trade, and facilitating trade.
- Article 5The Authority is the sole reference authority for standardization and quality, except for what the Food and Drug Authority handles, and bodies must cooperate with it.
- Article 6The article lists 13 tasks of the Authority, including the national standards strategy, preparing, reviewing, withdrawing and interpreting standards, a standards guide, public access for a fee, and international representation.
الباب الثالث: إعداد واعتماد وتبني المواصفة والوثيقة ذات الصلةArticles 7–11
- Article 7Preparing the standard and related document is the Authority's responsibility through technical teams; the Board or its delegate approves and adopts them, effective from the date it sets.
- Article 8The Authority must notify relevant bodies of the procedures for preparing and approving the Saudi standard and, where necessary, the related document, and for releasing them to the public.
- Article 9International and regional standards and related documents are the basis for adopting Saudi standards; a national standard may be the basis where none exists or it is unsuitable, in the Authority's judgment.
- Article 10Saudi standards and related documents begin with the symbol SASO in English (م ق س in Arabic) and are written in Arabic, which governs interpretation.
- Article 11Saudi standards and related documents are published in the Authority's publications, on its website or by other means, and the Authority may authorize others to sell them under the regulations.
الباب الرابع: مراجعة وتطبيق المواصفة السعودية والوثيقة ذات الصلةArticles 12–13
- Article 12The Authority must review the Saudi standard and related document periodically or at the request of relevant bodies, and the review may end in updating, suspending or withdrawing them.
- Article 13Applying the Saudi standard and related document is voluntary; government bodies may make a standard mandatory under their laws with the Authority's approval.
الباب الخامس: الجودةArticles 14–17
- Article 14The Authority is to prepare a national quality strategy in coordination with relevant bodies, submit it for approval under legal procedures, and supervise its implementation once approved.
- Article 15The Authority's board of directors adopts and approves the standards, regulations and related documents that set quality specifications for products and services.
- Article 16The Authority may launch competitions and take initiatives on quality in order to improve the quality of products and services in Saudi Arabia.
- Article 17The quality mark certificate is granted under the regulations; using or advertising the mark without it is prohibited, and holders must follow the conditions and stop using it when the license ends.
الباب السادس: ضبط مخالفات النظام وإيقاع العقوباتArticles 18–22
- Article 18Inspectors appointed by the Authority's board, together or individually, detect, investigate and document violations of the law and regulations; their working mechanisms are left to the regulations.
- Article 19The article prohibits preventing or obstructing an inspector from carrying out his inspection and detection work under the Standards and Quality Law.
- Article 20The inspector must keep confidential the information he obtains by virtue of his work, without this preventing the competent bodies from disclosing the necessary information.
- Article 21The article provides for forming one or more committees of five members, at least three of them legal advisers, to apply the penalties of Article 22, with a grievance to the Administrative Court within 60 days.
- Article 22Violating Article 17 on the quality mark is punished by one or more penalties: suspension of the certificate for up to a year, cancellation, or a fine of up to SAR 1 million, with possible publication of a summary of the decision.
الباب السابع: أحكام ختاميةArticles 23–24
- Article 23The Authority's board must issue the law's regulations within 90 days of its publication in the Official Gazette, to take effect once the law is in force.
- Article 24The Standards and Quality Law takes effect 90 days after its publication in the Official Gazette and repeals conflicting provisions.