Middle East · Saudi Arabia
What does it take to sell cosmetics in Saudi Arabia? Entry route, responsibility, labeling
Mandatory pre-market product notification (listing) in the SFDA GHAD unified e-platform (…; Responsible person: Only an SFDA-licensed Saudi establishment (importer/distrib…; Labeling: Arabic labeling mandatory (bilingual Arabic/Engli….
Latest change 2025-09-07 — SFDA added 21 substances to its prohibited list (after a 2025-08-14 circular adding three restricted substances); import/manufacture of non-compliant products is banned from 2026-01-01 with sell-through allowed until 2028-01-01. Source
Factory-side digest; the official text prevails; not legal advice.
- Authority
- Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)
- Main regulation
- Royal Decree No. M/49 dated 18/6/1436H (2015-04-07); Implementing Regulation of the Cosmetic Products Law; SFDA.CO/GSO 1943:2024; SFDA.CO/GSO 2528:2024 · Cosmetic Products Law (Royal Decree No. M/49 of 18/6/1436H) and its Implementing Regulation, with technical requirements SFDA.CO/GSO 1943
- In force
- 2015-10-04
- Market entry
- Mandatory pre-market product notification (listing) in the SFDA GHAD unified e-platform (eCosma module; GHAD replaced eCosma on 2023-03-30), decided within 15 days and valid 5 years, plus a shipment Certificate of Conformity via FASEH before customs clearance.
- Responsible person
- Only an SFDA-licensed Saudi establishment (importer/distributor or local manufacturer) can notify products, so foreign brands must appoint such a local agent.
- Safety file
- Product Information File per GSO 2636 with safety assessment, formula, test reports and GMP (GSO 2020 / ISO 22716) evidence held for SFDA inspection; local factories need an SFDA technical licence.
- Labeling
- Arabic labeling mandatory (bilingual Arabic/English accepted) with INCI list, function, batch, expiry or PAO, responsible party, net content, warnings and country of origin; must be free of pork derivatives; halal certification not legally mandatory.
- Animal testing
- No statutory ban on animal testing of cosmetics identified.
- Ingredient lists
- SFDA lists of prohibited and restricted substances and permitted colorants, preservatives and UV filters (SFDA.CO/GSO 1943 annexes aligned to EU 1223/2009), amended by SFDA circulars of Feb, Aug and Sep 2025.
- Notes
- SFDA's own site blocked fetching, so the 2025 circular dates rely on SGS/Cotecna summaries; Cotecna's Feb-2025 item describes an earlier restricted-substances circular with separate deadlines of 2026-12-01 (production/import) and 2028-12-01 (market).
- Official text
- https://www.sfda.gov.sa/en/regulations
Changes 2025–2026
- SFDA bans 21 more cosmetic ingredients
After a 2025-08-14 circular adding three restricted substances, SFDA added 21 substances (e.g. dibutyltin maleate, dibutyltin oxide, 4-nitrosomorpholine, 4-methylimidazole) to its prohibited list; import/manufacture of non-compliant products is banned from 2026-01-01 with sell-through allowed until 2028-01-01. Source
FAQ
Does Saudi Arabia require notification or registration before sale?
Mandatory pre-market product notification (listing) in the SFDA GHAD unified e-platform (eCosma module; GHAD replaced eCosma on 2023-03-30), decided within 15 days and valid 5 years, plus a shipment Certificate of Conformity via FASEH before customs clearance.
Is a local responsible person mandatory in Saudi Arabia?
Only an SFDA-licensed Saudi establishment (importer/distributor or local manufacturer) can notify products, so foreign brands must appoint such a local agent.
What are the labeling requirements in Saudi Arabia?
Arabic labeling mandatory (bilingual Arabic/English accepted) with INCI list, function, batch, expiry or PAO, responsible party, net content, warnings and country of origin; must be free of pork derivatives; halal certification not legally mandatory.
What changed recently in Saudi Arabia cosmetic regulation?
2025-09-07 SFDA added 21 substances to its prohibited list (after a 2025-08-14 circular adding three restricted substances); import/manufacture of non-compliant products is banned from 2026-01-01 with sell-through allowed until 2028-01-01.
Manufacturing for Saudi Arabia · by category
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Entering Saudi Arabia? Send the product type and we reply with the factory-side document list and lead time. Send an inquiry