November 27, 2025

SFDA Food Registration for Saudi Arabia

People who commonly search for SFDA Food Certification are often directed to the SFDA route instead of the regular SABER product conformity route for all kinds of food products being imported into Saudi Arabia. The food products have to be registered properly, comply with Saudi food labeling and safety requirements, and go through the necessary import-clearance process. 3 Stat blocks: – SFDA — Regulates Food Products – GHAD — Food Product Registration – Clearance — Completed for Each Shipment

Quick Summary

“SFDA Food Certification” is commonly used to describe the Saudi food compliance process, but there is no single universal food certificate. Foreign food establishments and Saudi importers and food products must be registered as applicable, while each shipment must separately meet SFDA import and clearance requirements. Food product registration/listing services are now managed through GHAD.
On this page, you’ll understand the following: - Who needs SFDA food registration - Which foods and businesses must be registered - How GHAD registration and shipment clearance differ - Labeling, Halal, and shelf-life requirements - Documents, costs, and common mistakes

How Does SFDA Food Registration Work?

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) regulates imported food, beverages, and food ingredients entering Saudi Arabia. Unlike many consumer and industrial products, food follows the SFDA route rather than SABER.

The process has three important registration layers:

The foreign food establishment exporting to Saudi Arabia
The Saudi importer responsible for placing the food on the market
The food product itself before import

SFDA confirms that overseas food establishments must register, while the importer completes product registration before importation.

In July 2025, the GHAD unified platform took over food product registration/listing services, while import and clearance services remained separate.

That distinction matters: registration makes the establishment and product known to SFDA; it does not replace shipment clearance. Each imported consignment must still meet the applicable documentation, inspection, labeling, safety, and clearance requirements.

Regulatory Framework

Who Needs SFDA Food Registration?

Foreign food and beverage manufacturers exporting to Saudi Arabia
Exporters of packaged food, ingredients, and bulk food
Saudi food importers and distributors
Brand owners supplying products through Saudi importers

The Saudi importer is responsible for registering imported food products, but the overseas establishment supplying those products must also be registered with SFDA. Both sides should therefore be set up before the first shipment is dispatched.

Talk to a Food Compliance Expert

Which Foods Need SFDA Registration?

Most imported food categories fall under SFDA oversight. The exact requirements depend on the product, ingredients, intended use, and applicable Saudi food regulations:

Packaged foods & beverages
Dairy & animal-derived products
Edible oils, sugar, staples
Food ingredients & additives
Nutritional / functional foods
Meat & poultry
Bulk food

Halal slaughter certification is currently mandatory for shipments of meat, poultry, and their products, and certificates must follow SFDA Halal Center requirements. Other foods should be assessed based on their ingredients and category rather than assuming Halal certification applies universally.

The Three Registrations Behind a Food Import

1. Foreign Establishment Registration

Who: Overseas manufacturer or exporting establishment

Purpose: Registers the foreign source supplying food to Saudi Arabia

2. Saudi Importer Registration

Who: Saudi food importer

Purpose: Creates the responsible local entity and SFDA account required for food imports

3. Food Product Registration

Who: Submitted through the importer

Purpose: Registers the individual food product and its required information before import

SFDA’s food-registration system is designed to maintain records of importers, establishments, and registered food products.

The SFDA Food Registration Process

01 — Confirm the Product Category

Review the product, ingredients, and intended use to identify the applicable SFDA food requirements.

02 — Register the Foreign Establishment

Submit the required information on the establishment, along with the required industrial/regulatory documents.

03 — Create a Saudi Importer

It is important that your Saudi importer holds the correct commercial activities and has an SFDA account for imported food products.

04 — Prepare/Register the Product

Prepare all the required information related to the product, its contents, origin, labeling, storage conditions, etc., and register the product via the relevant GHAD food service.

05 — Finalize the Food Registration

Clarify any doubts or questions from the SFDA until one meets all the requirements for registration.

06 — Shipment and Clearance for Import

Compile all relevant product and shipment documents for import clearance by the SFDA. Present the certificate at the port, meeting the shelf-life-remaining rule and labeling requirements on the consignment.

Documents Required

For establishment registration:

Registration or health certificate issued by the relevant authority
Industrial or commercial establishment documentation
Additional regulatory or quality certificates where applicable

SFDA specifically lists registration and industrial certificates for foreign food establishments, with additional quality requirements for certain meat, poultry, and fish establishments.

For food product registration (GHAD):

Product name and description
Full ingredient information
Country of origin
Net content and packaging information
Storage and expiry information
Arabic-compliant label artwork
Supporting technical documents where required
Halal documents where applicable

Shipment / Clearance
Depending on the product, shipment documents may include the commercial invoice, certificate of origin, Halal or slaughter certificate, and other certificates requested by SFDA.

Validity & Timeline

Timeline, Updates & Shelf-Life Requirements

There is no single registration timeline for every food product. Processing depends on the product category, completeness of the submission, and whether SFDA requires additional technical review or supporting information.

Registration should therefore be started well before the planned shipment date, particularly for special or more complex food categories.

Importance of Shelf Life at Import

Food must comply with SFDA.FD 150-1 and SFDA.FD/GSO 150-2, which SFDA identifies as the relevant Saudi expiry and shelf-life standards.

This situation makes shipping time important. A registered product can still face a clearance problem if the actual shipment does not meet its applicable expiry, storage, or import requirements when it arrives.

Saudi Food Labeling & Halal Requirements

Correct registration alone is not enough. The product itself must also comply with the applicable Saudi food requirements.

Arabic Labeling
Prepackaged food labeling must be in Arabic. Another language may appear alongside Arabic, but the information must match the Arabic text. Food labeling requirements are primarily governed by SFDA.FD/GSO 9, with additional nutrition or claim requirements applying where relevant.

Halal Certification
Halal slaughter certification is mandatory for applicable shipments of meat, poultry, and their products and must come through a recognized Halal certification route.

Both requirements should be checked before packaging is printed or goods are shipped.

How Much Does SFDA Food Registration Cost?

There is no single cost for every SFDA food registration project. The total depends on:

Number of products and variations
Food category and regulatory complexity
Establishment-registration requirements
Additional testing or technical documentation
Halal certification where applicable
Label review or artwork changes
Shipment and clearance requirements

Products with different mandatory registration information may need to be treated separately, so the product range should be reviewed before estimating cost.

Share your product details for a route-specific quotation.

Common SFDA Food Registration Mistakes

Using the SABER route — food products follow SFDA food requirements, not the standard SABER conformity process
Product registered, establishment missing — overseas exporting establishments must also be registered
Incorrect Arabic label — review the label before printing, not after the goods arrive
Product data does not match the label — ingredients, origin, pack size, and other product information should remain consistent
Ignoring shelf-life requirements — plan production and shipping around the applicable expiry requirements
Treating registration as clearance — completing product registration does not remove the need for shipment-level SFDA clearance

How Markek Supports Your SFDA Food Registration

Markek supports manufacturers, exporters, and Saudi importers through the food registration and import-readiness process.

Requirement Mapping — We review the food category, ingredients, and route to identify the applicable registration, labeling, and supporting-document requirements
Establishment & Product Registration Coordination — We coordinate the foreign-establishment setup and food-product registration through the applicable SFDA route and approved partners
Labeling Support — We help get the Arabic label right and plan around the remaining shelf life so shipments aren’t rejected
Through to Clearance — One point of contact from registration to the SFDA certificate that releases your goods

Important: SFDA is the sole regulatory authority responsible for approvals and food-import control. Markek’s role is to coordinate the compliance process and help exporters prepare the required documentation correctly.

Frequently asked questions

Is SFDA Food Certification Mandatory for Saudi Arabia?
Food products imported commercially into Saudi Arabia fall under SFDA requirements. Individual registration of the importer, foreign establishment, and applicable food products is compulsory, and each food shipment must comply with the relevant SFDA import and clearance requirements.
Is SFDA Food Certification the Same as Food Registration?
SFDA Food Certification” is a common search term, but food registration is usually the more accurate description. There is no single universal SFDA food certificate covering the entire process.
Does Food go Through SABER?
Food follows the SFDA food-compliance route rather than the standard SABER product-conformity process.
What is the GHAD Portal?
GHAD is SFDA’s unified electronic platform. Food product registration/listing services moved to GHAD in July 2025, while food import and clearance services are handled separately.
Who Registers the Food Product?
The Saudi importer registers food products before they are imported. The overseas establishment supplying those products must also be registered with SFDA.
When is Halal Certification Required?
SFDA currently requires Halal slaughter certification for imported shipments of meat, poultry, and their products. Other products should be checked according to their ingredients and applicable requirements.
Does the Food Label Have to Be in Arabic?
Yes. Food labeling must be in Arabic. Additional languages may be used alongside Arabic, provided the information is consistent with the Arabic text.
Does Every Food Product Need Laboratory Testing?
SFDA may require or initiate random testing of food products based on its category, documents, inspection findings, or other compliance considerations.
What is SFDA’s Usual Timeline for Food Registration?
The food registration timeline depends on its category, documentation, and the level of technical review required. For example, a special or more complex food category could take a few months compared to a common food ingredient, which could finish within a couple of weeks.
When Does a Registered Food Shipment Still get Rejected?
A registered food shipment/consignment may still face issues if it does not meet its labeling, documents, Halal requirements, expiry, storage conditions, or other applicable import requirements. Registration does not replace shipment compliance.