Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Member profile
Status of notification in the reporting periods
2010-2012
2012-2014
2014-2016
2016-2018
2018-2020
2020-2022
2022-2024
2024-2026
Notification information
|
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of
|
27/06/2024
|
2024-2026
|
||
|
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of
|
24/04/2020
|
2018-2020
|
Types of restrictions
All biennial periods and all notifications
Top 10 HS chapters notified
All biennial periods and all notifications
Top 10 WTO justifications notified
All biennial periods and all notifications
Top 10 Non-WTO commitments notified
All biennial periods and all notifications
QR details
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade policy review
Latest Trade Policy Review (Report by the WTO Secretariat): WT/TPR/S/407/Rev.1
A. Import prohibitions and restrictions and import licensing
3.49.
Under the GCC Common Customs Law, each GCC member State determines its own list of prohibited or restricted products, although members are developing a common list.[127] Imports that are prohibited in some GCC member States but permitted in others may not transit through the member States in which they are prohibited.
3.50.
In February 2020, Saudi Arabia made a new notification about its import licensing procedures with the aim of helping the business sector, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), by removing import barriers and increasing transparency for obtaining import licences, as well as by regulating the importing process.[128]
3.51.
Import prohibitions continue to be maintained based on security, public safety, moral, and religious considerations, as well as on international obligations, such as international convention requirements and UN sanction resolutions. According to the authorities, there are 111 prohibited items at the 12-digit level covering, inter alia, narcotics, alcoholic beverages, live swine and swine products, and worn clothes (Table 3.4). According to the SCA website[129], however, there are 113 products at the 12-digit level because items HS 220300000000 (beer made from malt) and HS 220600000000 (other fermented beverages) are also described as prohibited.
3.52.
Under the Basel, Rotterdam, and Vienna Conventions, imports of recycled plastic waste are restricted. Imports of ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol are also restricted.
3.53.
Import licensing requirements are applied to imports from all trading partners except other GCC member States.
3.54.
Saudi Arabia does not operate an automatic licensing scheme, while the non-automatic licensing system is maintained for the purpose of meeting requirements of domestic legislation and/or for compliance with international conventions. The list of products subject to licensing requirements is kept by the Ministry of Commerce and may be amended if necessary.
3.55.
For imports of each product subject to import licensing requirements, licensing procedures are handled by a single relevant administrative body, and an eligible importer may apply to that authority for a licence (Table A3.1). Licence applications may be submitted 21 days prior to the arrival of goods; it takes a maximum of 30 days to process the applications, but the authorities indicate that licences are usually decided in a shorter period.
3.56.
The validity of import licences differs depending on the type of product.[130] No licensing fees, other than administrative charges or deposits, are required for issuing a licence. Import licences are not transferable.
3.57.
In addition, imports of live animals and birds and of plants for planting also require an application for a licence from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture on the grounds of SPS considerations (Section 3.3.3). Imports of endangered species of wild fauna and flora under CITES or under national legislation[131] must apply to the National Center for Wildlife Development for import permits; the applications must be accompanied by CITES certificates issued by the exporting/re-exporting country.
3.58.
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology is the responsible agency for the approval procedure for information and communication technology (ICT) equipment, prior to manufacturing, importing, distributing, leasing, or selling telecommunications equipment. The procedure is based on established and published technical standards by the Communication and Information Technology Commission and is applied only on this type of equipment.
B. Export prohibitions and restrictions
3.72.
According to the SCA, Saudi Arabia does not maintain any export prohibitions/restrictions that target specific trading partners.
3.73.
Saudi Arabia maintains export bans on eight categories of products (Table 3.6).
3.74.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Saudi Arabia took some temporary measures to prohibit exports of some products. These measures ensure the supply of goods necessary for preventing a critical shortage of essential products and for preserving human health. The products subject to the temporary export prohibition include personal protective equipment for safeguarding against the spread of disease, medical equipment, and pharmaceutical products.[141]
3.75.
As was the case in its last Review, Saudi Arabia has 10 categories of goods subject to export licensing requirements (Table 3.7). Exports of antiques are no longer prohibited but subject to approval (licensing) from the Ministry of Tourism. Exports of any wildlife species (animals or plants) and their products must be accompanied by a CITES permit from the National Center for Wildlife Development. Exports of crude oil and its derivatives are subject to automatic licensing requirements.
3.76.
Exporters must obtain licences from the relevant authorities before submitting export declarations. Procedures for export licence applications are similar to those for import licences. There are no licence fees.
WTO's environmental database (EDB)
The EDB contains environment-related measures that may qualify as QRs and therefore should be notified under the QR Decision.