Saudi Arabia Mandates Unified Charging Ports for Portable Electronics

                                                                                                                                                                                       

In Saudi Arabia, the authorities, represented by SASO, have announced the decision to standardize charging ports for portable electronic devices sold within their country.
The decision will take place in two phases. The first phase will begin on 1 January 2025 and includes devices with totally 18 HS Codes, covering mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, e-readers, portable video game devices, headphones, earphones, amplifiers, keyboards and computer pointer devices, in addition to portable navigation systems, portable speakers and wireless routers. The second phase shall start 1 April 2026 and will include laptops.
The intention is to enhance user experience and reduce costs as well as to minimize e-waste.  It shall contribute to reducing the amount of annual domestic consumption of chargers and charging cables for mobile phones and electronic devices by more than 2.2 million units annually and help to achieve the country’s goals for sustainability in the technology sector through reducing electronic waste by approximately 15 tons annually.

The decision means that for charging ports on all new models of portable electronics, manufacturers are required to adopt either the USB Type-C or USB Power Delivery standards, as specified in the standards SASO IEC 62680-1-2:2017 and SASO IEC 62680-1-3:2017.

Manufacturers and importers are advised to start adjusting their product development plans to comply with the updated specifications by 1 August. Preparing in advance will help ensure a seamless transition and adherence to the new standards, thereby avoiding any disruptions in product certification and market availability.

Further information may be seen for example here.

(Article is based on the information shared by SASO website and edited by T.Sollie)