The Technical Regulation

of Saudi Quality Mark

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 Contents

Introduction:

Article1: Definitions:..

Article2: The scope of application:

Article3: The Ownership of quality mark:.

Article4: General regulation.

Article5: The right to obtain the license:..

Article6: The technical requirements to grant the license:.

Article7: The Impartial committee for quality mark works:

Article8: The committee of reviewing and decision making:.

Article9: The Mutual recognition agreements:...

Article10: The maintenance of confidentiality:..

Article11: Information about the products covered by quality mark & quality mark
promotion:

Article12: License granting steps:.

Article13: Expanding the scope of the license:

Article14: The required procedures by the licensee in the event of changes that impact the
license validity.

Article15: Suspending or Cancelling the license:.

Article16: Objections:..

Article17: Conditions of using the quality mark:.

Article18: Quality mark validity suspension:

Article19: Quality mark misuse:.

Article20: The amendments of "the requirements to obtain the license"..

Article21: The suspension of granting quality mark

Article22: Financial issues

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Introduction

According to the fourth article (item 3) of SASO's Regulation issued by

the Royal Decree No. 216 on 30-05-2010, which stated, "issuing the
license regulations of quality mark for domestic and imported products
that are conformed to the national standards which in turn accredits them
and gives the right to use them, and to apply these regulations".

According to the fourth article (item 5) of SASO regulation issued by the

Royal Decree No. 216 on 30-05-2010, which stated," granting the quality
mark to the products, under the condition that the quality mark should be
granted to the products that are under Saudi food and drug authority
which can grant the quality mark to it after its approval".

According to the sixth article (item 1) of SASO regulation issued by the

Royal Decree No. 216 on 30-05-2010, which stated," taking into
consideration of what has stated in the fourth article of this regulation,
SASO is, in KSA, the reference in all matters relating to the standards,
conformity assessment procedures and granting quality and conformity
mark. All government and private sectors should be committed to Saudi
standards in all their purchases and works".

According to the ninth article of SASO regulations issued by the Royal

Decree No. 216 on 30-05-2010, which stated that SASO Board of
Directors is the appropriate authority to manage SASO's affairs and to
take all the necessary decisions to achieve its objectives. In addition, it
contains specifically the following:

"Setting up the fees for the services that are offered by SASO in its field
of competence, and to put the earnings into a separate account in order to
expense them for the purposes specified by the Council of Ministers".

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According to those articles, SASO has issued these technical regulations
for Quality Mark.

Article1: Definitions

1/1 SASO: Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Establishment.

1/2 Commodity: The final product to be granted the Saudi Quality Mark.

1/3 Granting Body: The competent body in SASO or any approved

conformity assessment body.

1/4 the establishment:

1/4/1 Any factory or production unit having one location or more and
producing the product.

1/4/2 Any importer or distributer contracted-out with a factory or a

producing unit that produce the product.

1/5 Granting procedure: A program specifies the requirements that should

be committed to in order to issue the license using the quality mark for
some product.

1/6 Standards: The approved Saudi standards.

1/7 Saudi quality mark: A mark approved by SASO indicating conformity

of the product to relevant Saudi technical regulations or Saudi standards.

1/8 Inspector: A person assigned by SASO to carry out inspection

duties described in this document.

1/9 Initial Inspection: Initial checking carried out the granting body on
the establishment applying for a license to use the quality mark, for the

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purpose of studying the quality control system applied in the
establishment.

And to take samples from the commodity for testing and showing the
extent of its compliance with Saudi standards. The results of the study
and the tests form the basis on which a decision is made whether or not to
grant the establishment a license to use the quality mark.

1/10 Periodic Inspection: An inspection carried out the granting body on

the establishment, to ensure its correct use of the mark and its adherence
to the quality manual. During inspection, samples from the products
bearing the mark are taken for testing to ensure the mark are taken for
testing to ensure their conformity to relevant Saudi standards.

1/11 The committee of reviewing and decision making: It's a committee

formed by SASO to review and make decisions of granting the license for
the commodity by using the quality mark or not or renew the license for
the commodity by using the quality mark, based on the technical
assessment results that conducted by the granting body.

1/12 The Impartial committee for quality mark works: It's a technical
advisory committee formed by SASO to view on everything related to the
activities of granting the license of using quality mark for the commodity.
The members are NOT employees at SASO; they are representatives of
the relevant bodies in order to achieve a balance of interests.

1/13 The Contract: A document licensing the use of the quality mark, and
in accordance with it, the establishment has the right to use the quality
mark of SASO on the commodities that have the license under limited
conditions and for a limited period of time.

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1/14 License: It's a certificate issued by SASO for the establishment, and
according to it, the establishment has the right to use the quality mark on
the commodities that have the license in order to approve that they meet
the requirements of these regulations and to carry out a specific grant. In
addition to approve that the commodities have been tested and they are
conformed to the Saudi standards and to approve that the establishment
has an effective management system that ensures continuance of
producing commodities with the required quality.

1/15 Suspension of the license: Suspension of the establishment from

using the mark for a limited period of time. After that, the establishment
can use it after demonstrating to the granting body its removal of
suspension causes.

1/16 Cancelation of the license: The cancelation of the license of use of

quality mark for the establishment utterly, and it should apply again for
the license of using the quality mark.

Article2: Scope of application

Provisions of this regulation apply to establishments that apply to SASO
to obtain a License to use the quality mark for products conforming to
Saudi standards.

Article3: The Ownership of quality mark

Saudi quality mark is owned by SASO according to the trademark No.
79/1303 dated 18/01/1433 AH, in addition to the registration of quality
mark locally it could be registered internationally in countries that have to
be protected.

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Parting with the ownership or even to transfer it, is not possible except in
accordance with the conditions specified in trademark law of Saudi
Arabia and it cannot be acquired or confined. The ownership is not
subject to any mandatory procedures except in the issues specified in the
relative regulation.

Artivcle4: General regulation

SASO has given the granting body the authority to grant the license with
quality mark and the granting body certifies on meeting the requirements
of regulation by the establishment in addition to the specific procedure of
granting and commodities conformity to Saudi standards.
If the license has been issued, that means SASO is giving the
establishment the right to use the quality mark on the specific
commodities, and for some considerations, SASO may ask the help from
technical bodies to do some managerial procedures especially in the felids
of the works of technical committees.
When the granting body and the technical committees apply this
regulation in addition to the granting procedures related to the product,
they meet the professional requirements and the international practices,
particularly:
1/4 Provide guarantees for impartiality towards manufacturers, importers,
or distributers who applied to obtain the license. In addition to providing
guarantees to the consumers of those products.

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2/4 Provide qualified persons and enough resources to work properly to
grant the license.

The granting body may assign some of the assessment procedures like
audits, tests, and inspection, which are required in the regulation, in
addition to granting to other bodies whether they are establishments or
individuals. The granting body should make sure that all partners are
doing all tasks assigned to them properly.

Article5: The right to obtain the license

Every establishment has the right to request SASO to obtain the license
when the commodity has Saudi standards. After the establishment meets
the requirements of this regulation in addition to the granting procedure
to its commodity, the results will be reviewed to the committee of
reviewing and decision-making.
The license will be issued by a resolution from the authorized official in
SASO, and the license is valid for three years and it is renewable
automatically unless the establishment unless otherwise stated from the
establishment 30 days before the end of the license.
*Note: The establishments that are from outside of Saudi Arabia should
have a legal representative in Saudi Arabia.

Article6: The technical requirements to grant the license

The technical requirements and the standards specify the granting
procedure that the establishment should be obligated to for every category
of commodities, and SASO accredits it according to the requirements of
this regulation.

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 Article7: The Impartial committee for quality mark works
Establishing an advisory committee called "The Impartial committee for
quality mark works" to work on every issue relative to granting the
license activities.
1/7 Forming the committee:
The impartial committee for quality mark's works consists of five
members who are not from SASO but they are representatives of the
bodies that have the authority to achieve the balance of interests. They
should be appointed as follow:
1/1/7 A representative of the beneficiaries from the establishments that
have the license.
2/1/7 A representative of the establishments that have the license.
3/1/7 A representative of the industrial associations (or Trade chambers).
4/1/7 A representative of the governmental establishments or ministries.
5/1/7 A representative of non-governmental establishments (like
Consumer Protection/Quality Associations/ The Accredited Universities
in KSA/ Advisory Offices)

The official of authority appoints the five members for three years, and
they can have a renewal for another three years if they are not changed by
the official of authority.
In addition to the main members, observers or other experts can attend
the meeting.
SASO is working to provide the committee with the technical secretary.

2/7 The committee's tasks

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In the light of this regulation, the committee offers advices over:
1/2/7 Developing the policies related to the impartiality of the activities
of commodities conformity assessment.
2/2/7 on the system of granting the quality mark in SASO in addition to
the rules and the steps of commodities conformity assessment operations,
granting the license, maintain the impartiality, integrity and objectivity in
all granting activities that SASO offers through the granting body.
3/2/7 the possible amendments on the system of commodities conformity
assessment and this regulation.
4/2/7 Suggesting the recognition agreements as stated in article 9.
5/2/7 Suggestions to the granting body.
6/2/7 Following-up the granting body works.
7/2/7 Suggesting the development of new applications of the granting
body.
8/2/7 Dealing with complains, objections and disputes, related to the
granting body, from the requesting applicants of the licensees according
to article 16.
9/2/7 Assuring the implementation of the general policy, development
and promoting the quality mark and expressing opinions over the
procedures.
10/2/7 Assuring the conformity of the system of granting quality mark in
SASO to the requirements of the international standard ISO 17065.

3/7 The committee's meetings:

The committee's meetings are conducted at least once a year, and the one
who is responsible of the meeting is the committee's chairman or his
deputy and the committee can meet (either personally or online) for
business continuity.

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 Article8: The committee of reviewing and decision-making
The committee is supervising the reviewing of all information and results
related to the assessment and any related information.
It is also making the decision over grating/renewing the license of
commodities or NOT according to all the results related to the
assessment.
1/8 The committee's formation
The committee consists of members that have the experience and the
technical competency in the fields of metrology, the special rules of the
relative sectors, and the requirements of commodities conformity
assessment. In addition to its main members, observers or other experts
can attend the meeting if needed, and they have to be invited to attend the
discussions, and that is according to the agenda of the meeting.

2/8 The committee's tasks

1/2/8 Reviewing the files of the concerned establishments, the results of
commodities conformity assessment and the assessment of the system of
the management that is applied in the concerned establishments for
making a decision about granting/renewing/suspension/cancelling the
license.
2/2/8 Submitting the suggestions about the developments of commodities
conformity assessment.
3/2/8 Submitting the decision that is made by the committee in two weeks
and approve it by the person of authority.

3/8 The committee's meetings

The committee's meetings are conducted, if needed, in two weeks when
all the data the reports of the product are available, the chairman of the

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committee is the one who is responsible of the meeting and the committee
can meet (either personally or online) for business continuity.

Article9: The Mutual recognition agreements

SASO is the only body that is authorized to make the agreements that are
related with the quality mark and its recognition with the establishments
at the regional and international level.

Article10: The maintenance confidentiality

All the parties that are participated in granting license works including
the impartial committee members and other committees are committed to
professional confidentiality, and they have to keep all the documents
related to the quality mark, or documents entrusted to them from
disclosure, or damage, or forgery or illegal possession.

SASO can allow viewing some parts of the documents of the files or all
the files, if it was asked by accreditation bodies, legal bodies, or the
committees that are participated in granting license works.

Article11: Information about the products covered by quality mark

& quality mark promotion
1/11 Publishing the information of the quality mark:
SASO is responsible of supervising the publishing process of the
information that are related to commodities covered by the quality mark
and the licensee bodies, and it is monitoring the expansion of the mark in
general.

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2/11 Promoting the quality mark
The granting body is responsible of promoting the quality mark, in
addition to the advertisements and the promotion activities that are related
to the quality mark. The granting body is processing all the procedures
that are required to expand the application scope of the quality mark after
SASO's approval.
In addition, licensed bodies can take initiative in organizing advertising
campaigns for applying quality mark at their own expense under the
supervision of SASO.

Article (12): Procedures for granting the License

12.1 Establishments can apply to get license to use the quality mark if
they fulfil the primary conditions of granting license:

12.1.1 The Establishments should be legally licensed and their works

should be related to field of requested license.

12.1.2 The Establishments should accept all conditions that are

mentioned in this regulation and the procedures of grant. The requested
commodities of license should be conformed with related Saudi
Standards.

12.1.3 Establishing and applying the active system for management to

achieve the requirements of specific granting procedures. This system
ensures the continuity of producing commodities that are conformed to
specific Saudi Standards in the request of granting license.

12.1.4 Pledging to announce about any amendments related to

commodities, equipment of production or monitoring.

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12.1.5 Pledging to determine Trade Name (Trade Mark and Reference) of
commodities for granting the license. Also, inform the granting bodies
about any change in this Trade Name.

12.1.6 Pledging to put the trademark as method that mentioned in

granting procedure. Using the mark just for commodities and products
that get license according to related Saudi Standards.

12.1.7 Keeping a record for the complaints related to commodities having

Quality Mark and the procedures carried out. This record should be
available for auditors when they need it.

12.1.8 Pledging to present all necessary facilities for SASO (on behalf of
SASO) in conducting any audit, provide all information including
methods of quality control and provide any private register of production
and quality in any time.

12.1.9 Pledging to inform the granting body about any advertising

document of commodities.

12.1.10 Filling the specific form and attaching all required documents.

12.2 The Granting body conduct the following:

21.2.1 Receipting and studying the request.

The Granting body studies the request and the attached documents. Then,
the granting body sends the results to the establishment in 15 days from
the date of request. If there are any shortfalls, they should complete it
through 30 day from the request date.

12.2.2 Preliminary audit and tests.

12.2.2.1 Appointing the granting body. The appointed body establishes a

team to visit the establishment and production lines to check and take

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samples from the final product of requested commodities. Those
commodities are testing by the granting bodies or approved laboratories
according to the regulations of SASO or the procedures of grant.

12.2.2.2 In the case of objection from establishment to the procedures of

testing in one of appointed laboratories, the establishment should inform
the granting bodies in written with the reasons.

12.2.3 The Granting body should deal with private information of

establishment in top secret.

12.2.4 Granting the licenses.

12.2.4.1 Preparing the reports about the results of the visit of audit
including the results of tests and recommendations. Reports are displayed
on Audit Committee according to article 8 of this regulation. The
committee can do additional evaluation at the expense of the
establishment. In addition, the committee can request improvements in
specific points or monitoring the production before take the decision of
grant.

12.2.4.2 In the case of meeting the conditions, the establishment can get
license. The license issued by authorized person in SASO. The validity of
license is for 3 years and automatically renew if the license body do not
record any case of non-conformity, violation of requirements or the
establishment want to cancel the license before 30 days from the end of
the license.

12.2.5 Follow up the file and renew the license (Periodic audit/tests).

12.2.5.1 The granting body conductsperiodic audit on the licensed

establishment according to this regulation and the procedures of grant.

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This periodic audit should be more than one in a year. Periodic audit
includes the same steps of preliminary audit.

12.2.5.2 The granting body has rights to take random samples from any
licensed commodities directly in order to test to insure that the
commodities are conformed to the requirements of this regulation, the
procedures of grant and related standards.

12.2.5.3 The granting body follows the files of licensed establishments

through continuous monitoring to the evaluation of results of conformity.
In addition, Granting bodies conduct the periodic audit, sampling and\or
periodic tests according to the regulation and the related procedures of
grant.

Article (13): Expand the field of license

13.1 Licensed establishment can request to expand the field of license

from granting bodies for new commodities. Those commodities will
subject to same procedures and regulation of grant. The establishment
identifies the commodities and the place of manufacture according to the
specific form.

13.2 The granting body studies the request of expanding the field of the
license. Then, it informs the establishment about the results and required
conditions for expand the field of license within 15 days from date of
request.

13.3 The request of expanding the field of the license may requires
additional evaluation or re-conduct the preliminary tests.

Article (14): the required procedures from licensed body (in the case
of changes that effect in validity of license)

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14.1 Licensed body cannot do any modifications on the licensed
commodities unless getting the approval from the granting body (the
approve of modifications may requires additional evaluation or re-
conduct the preliminary tests). The related conditions of this agreement
will send to licensed bodies within 30 days from date of request (inform
and consult the committee of review about the proposed changes).

14.2 SASO should be informed in a written note about any amendments

that related to the equipments of products, monitoring and the system of
conformity because they may effect in the conformity of commodities.

14.3 Licensed body should inform SASO in a written note before

initiating in transferring (temporary, permanent, total or partial) the
products to the unpublished place for manufacturing. The granting body
should inform the licensed body within 15 days from date of request
about the procedures of requirement of evaluation (tests or visit for audit)
that SASO will implement in the new place of production so that licensed
bodies can continue to benefit from licenses.

14.4 The licensed body should inform the granting body in a written note
about any definitive stop in producing licensed commodities. The
licensed body should inform the granting body when they desire a
definitive stop in having the Quality Mark on their commodities with a
notification includes the amount of commodities that are having the
Quality Mark and the necessary period of supply. The period should not
exceed 3 months. When the specified period is end, the granting body
takes the decision to cancel the license.

14.5 Licensed body should inform the granting body about any legal
amendments in the establishment and\or their legal representative (for the
establishments that their business are outside Saudi Arabia). In addition,

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licensed body should inform the granting body about any change on the
name of establishment.

Article (15): Cancellation or suspension the License:

In the case of lack of commitment in using the quality mark by the
establishment, SASO will apply rules and procedures of this regulation of
grant. SASO will inform the establishment about all notes and
infringements.
The licensed body has suitable period to display the respond for granting
body. After studying the respond by the granting body, the granting body
take one of the following decisions as result for abuse of quality mark
according to article (19):
15.1 the granting body shall take a decision to suspend the License for
limited period. The granting body also determines the conditions of
lifting the suspension in following cases:
15.1.1 In the case of recording any non-conformity of commodities or
violating the requirements that effect in conformity of commodities
directly.
15.1.2 In the case of the establishment that does not comply with the
correction in period of 6 months for violating the requirements. The
granting body shall take corrective procedures that do not effect the
conformity of commodities.
15.1.3 If the establishment stopped to produce commodity having the
Quality Mark for more than 6 months.
15.2 The cases of cancellation the license:
15.2.1 If the establishment cannot apply any amendments in the standards
that are related to commodity or any amendments that SASO adds in this
regulation or the procedures of grant.
15.2.2 If the establishment did not want to renew the license.

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15.2.3 In the case of establishment that stopped producing licensed
commodity for more than 6 months.
15.2.4 If the period of suspension of license is more than 12 months.
15.2.5 In the case of the establishment does not comply with corrective
procedures in the determined period of suspension according to the
determined conditions of lift.
15.2.6 If the establishment did not pay the costs for SASO or the granting
body.
15.3 The Cancellation of license does not absolve the establishment from
the dues for SASO or granting body.
15.4 Sending the decisions and the date of apply to the concerned part
and the reasons of suspension or cancellation. According to those
decisions, the licensed body cannot use quality mark. The decisions may
apply in all stages of production and\or marketing of specific
commodities.
15.5 In urgent cases or in dangerous violations in particular, the granting
body shall apply the decision of suspension or cancellation for the license
immediately as precautionary measure.
15.6 Licensed body must not benefit from using the Quality Mark after
the decision of suspension or cancellation.
15.7 In the case of suspension or cancellation, the establishment presents
a statement that include the amount of marked commodities with Quality
Mark. SASO guides the establishment with action as necessary:
15.7.1 Removing and\or eliminate this commodity if the reason of
suspension or cancellation is non-conformity with this regulation, the
procedures of grant and related Saudi Standards.
15.7.2 Removing the Quality Mark is according with suitable and agreed
method if the reason of cancellation is non-renewal or non-payment the
costs.

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15.8 SASO has right to announce about suspension or cancellation of
license for any establishment in various media.
Article (16): Objections
16.1 An establishment has the right to object on the decision of
suspension or reject the license according to a supported evidence. SASO
or the granting body shall inform the establishment about the results.
16.2 In the case of confirming the decision, SASO or the granting body
shall inform the establishment with the decision by registered message or
what's equivalent to it. The establishment has right to appeal (second
objection) the decision by sending a request in period of 15 from the date
of annunciation of SASO.
16.3 SASO will appoint members of objections committee in order to
consider and review the appeal then take the decision.
Article (17): The conditions of using the Quality Mark
17.1 The quality mark be granted according to the conditions that are
mentioned in this regulation. The licensed bodies should commit to it. All
licensed bodies undertake all necessary procedures to insure the
fulfillment of these conditions.
17.2 The licensed bodies must put the Quality Mark in the specific
commodities in the license only. Licensed body has right to display the
Quality Mark in specific marketing documents of that commodities.
17.3 Licensed body must print, sculpt, put or stick the Quality Mark in a
way that is difficult to remove.
17.4 If there is no enough space on the commodity or if it cannot be put
on it, a place should determined for the mark in agree with the granting
body.
17.5 The Quality Mark should be as the type that is mentioned in the
related procedure of grant.

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17.6 Licensed body must not display the Quality Mark on the
correspondence.
17.7 Licensed body must not use the Quality Mark before or during
studying and processing the request.
17.8 The establishment can inquire SASO for approving to use the
Quality Mark in documents that the establishment wants to display the
Quality Mark on it.
17.9 In any case, using the Quality Mark does not mean that granting
body is legally responsible about manufacturer, distributor or importer of
commodity.
Article (18): Suspension of validity of the right to use the Quality
Mark
The right to use the Quality Mark will suspend automatically in the cases
that are mentioned in article (15) of this regulation. In addition, it will be
suspend automatically if the referenced standards of the commodity are
not applied according to the mentioned conditions in article (21) of this
regulation.
In the case of liquidation and integration of the licensed establishment, all
licenses will suspend automatically. The establishment should request a
new application to get license.
Article (19): Misuse of the Quality Mark
19.1 In addition to mentioned decisions in article (15) of this regulation,
any misuse of the Quality Mark by a licensed body or by a third part,
SASO has the right to take the legal procedures and in collaboration with
the granting body according to regulations if necessary.
19.2 SASO has the right to apply the sanctions against any establishment
that uses the quality mark without obtaining a license. In addition, SASO
has the right to apply the sanctions against any establishment that
continues using the quality mark by any means of media after issuing the
decision of suspension, cancellation or fraud the license. SASO will apply
specific related laws in Saudi Arabia in addition to other legal and
administrative sanctions that mentioned in other laws.

Article (20): Amendments in the requirements of getting the license

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Any amendments in the requirements of getting the license may leads to
amendments in system of management in the licensed establishment (for
example amending or updating standards that are mentioned in the
regulation and procedures of the grant. In this case, the granting body
should inform all licensed bodies about the date of the actual application
of the new requirements and the importance of applying the procedures of
additional evaluation (tests and audit) for commodities.

Article (21): Suspending granting the quality mark

SASO has the right to suspend granting the quality mark in agreement
with the granting body partially or totally. The granting body determines
conditions and final dates and informs all related parties.
The granting body will inform the committee of neutral business of
quality mark in SASO about this suspension.

Article (22): Financial Affairs

The below table explains the costs of granting Saudi Quality Mark

The costs of granting Saudi Quality Mark

No. Article Costs (Saudi Riyal)
1 Application costs 3000
2 Costs of studying the 2500 per working day
technical primary
documents
3 Audit costs (primary\ 3000 per working day
periodic)
4 Costs of committee for 2500 per working day
reviewing the documents
(*)
5 Costs of using quality 20000 25000 more 1. The
mark (optional) From 1-20 than 20 commoditie
(**) products products s that are
(The first (The first related to
three three years) one
years) standard.
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 2. Calculate
5000 S\R
for renewal
annually as
registered
value.
6 Costs of issuing the 5000 \ per product 1. The
certificate of quality mark commoditie
(annual) s that are
related to
one
regulation.
2. This article
is for only
commoditie
s that must
have
Quality
Mark.
7 Travel and residences Licensed body should provide flight tickets
costs and residence of auditors. This cost will
classify as following:
1. Economy class flight tickets.
2. 4 Stars hotels at least.
If SASO provide all previous mentioned
arrangements, it will add 20% on the
cost of tickets + hotels.
8 Costs of tests Licensed body should bear the cost of required
tests according to the regulations of grant

Notes:
(*): Determining the workdays according to the procedures of grant of
each product and the number of products that are mentioned in the
application for requesting the quality mark This procedures will be
approved by the authority.
(**): In case of requesting more than one copy whether in Arabic or
English, it will add 1000 SR for each copy/products.

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