(Based on blog by Lars Hjerpseth)
Saudi Arabia is introducing a regulation on Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) which shall be in force from 5 January 2022.
This was decided after the Saudi authorities having discovered several products on the market containing substances that represent danger to the safety of both consumers and the environment.
The regulation was published in July this year by SASO (Saudi Arabia Standards, Metrology & Quality Organization) and concerns the following six chemical substances: Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent chromium, Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).
Relevant products must be tested/assessed to ensure that any content of the restricted substances do not exceed defined limits.
The concerned substances as well the limits are in line with the European RoHS Directive, (while this Directive has since 2015 also restricted four additional substances, the phthalates DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP).
The Saudi RoHS regulation will apply to Household appliances, IT&C equipment, Lighting equipment, Electrical & electronic tools, Monitoring & control equipment and Leisure, recreational & sporting equipment.
Exceptions include Medical devices, Military equipment, Large-scale industrial stationary machinery, Large-scale fixed installations and Aerospace equipment.
An important difference from the European RoHS Directive is that self-declaration will not be sufficient. The manufacturer or importer must arrange for necessary testing/assessment and certification of the products by a designated Notified Body, such as Nemko.
RoHS compliance will be a part of the Saudi SABER system for registration of certified products, whereby annual renewal is required.
For further information or assistance with certification for Saudi Arabia (as well as for other countries worldwide), please contact Lars.Hjerpseth@nemko.com
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