Article 10 of the Saudi Standards and Quality Law
المادة 10 من نظام المواصفات والجودة · الباب الثالث: إعداد واعتماد وتبني المواصفة والوثيقة ذات الصلة
Saudi standards and related documents begin with the symbol SASO in English (م ق س in Arabic) and are written in Arabic, which governs interpretation.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- تبدأ المواصفة السعودية أو الوثيقة ذات الصلة باختصار بالرمز التعريفي (م ق س) باللغة العربية وSASO)) باللغة الإنجليزية.
2- تستخدم اللغة العربية في كتابة المواصفة السعودية والوثيقة ذات الصلة، ويجوز استخدام لغة أخرى بجانب اللغة العربية على أن تكون اللغة العربية هي اللغة المعتمدة في تفسير المواصفة السعودية والوثيقة ذات الصلة.
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 10 explained in plain English
This article sets two formal rules that are nonetheless important in dealing with standards:
1. The identifying symbol: the Saudi standard or related document begins with an abbreviation, the symbol:
- (م ق س) in Arabic.
- (SASO) in English.
So if you see in a document or contract a reference to a standard beginning with this symbol, a Saudi standard or related document issued under the law is meant.
2. The language of the standard:
- Arabic is used in writing the Saudi standard and the related document.
- Another language may be used alongside Arabic.
- But Arabic remains the language that governs interpretation.
Practical effect: if a standard is published in Arabic and English and the two texts differ on the meaning of a requirement, the Arabic text is the one relied on for interpretation. This matters to foreign companies and importers who rely on the English version in their work; they would do well to check the Arabic text on decisive points.
This article is among the provisions on preparing and approving the standard, alongside Article 9, which sets the basis on which the Saudi standard is built, and Article 11, which regulates publishing and selling standards. Someone facing a dispute over the interpretation of a requirement in a standard may consult a lawyer who specializes in commercial cases.
Practical example
A foreign company exporting devices to Saudi Arabia relied on the English version of a SASO standard, and it then turned out that the wording of one requirement differed between the two versions. Under the article, Arabic is the language that governs the interpretation of the standard.
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 10 of the Saudi Standards and Quality Law
What does the symbol م ق س mean?
It is the identifying symbol with which the Saudi standard or related document begins in Arabic, and its English equivalent is SASO.
Which language governs the interpretation of a Saudi standard?
Arabic governs interpretation, even if another language is used alongside it.
More articles on Preparing and Approving a Saudi Standard
- Article 7
Preparing 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.
1- تتولى الهيئة مسؤولية إعداد المواصفة والوثيقة ذات الصلة، وفقاً للإجراءات التي تحددها اللوائح. 2- تشكل الهيئة فرقًا فنية تتولى إعداد المواصفة والوثيقة ذات الصل
- Article 8
The 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.
تقوم الهيئة بإشعار الجهات ذات العلاقة بإجراءات إعداد المواصفة السعودية واعتمادها والوثيقة ذات الصلة (عند الضرورة)، وإجراءات طرحهما للعموم.
- Article 9
International 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.
تعتبر المواصفة الدولية والمواصفة الإقليمية والوثيقة ذات الصلة هي الأساس في تبني المواصفة السعودية. وفي حال عدم وجود مواصفة دولية أو مواصفة إقليمية في مجال معين
- Article 11
Saudi 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.
1- تنشر المواصفة السعودية والوثيقة ذات الصلة في إصدار خاص على مطبوعات الهيئة أو موقعها الإلكتروني أو في أي وسيلة أخرى تراها الهيئة. 2- يجوز للهيئة تفويض من تراه
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.