Food & Beverage Clearance
Deep food-clearance expertise + meticulous SFDA compliance
Food Imports = Details Where No Mistakes Are Allowed
Saudi Arabia’s food sector operates under the strictest regulations in the region. Any error in health certificates, food labeling, expiry dates, or Halal certification means rejection, spoiled cargo, and losses in the thousands.
At OBOOR, we handle food shipments daily and know every SFDA requirement in detail.
Relevant Regulators
We deal with all of them on your behalf
SFDA — Saudi Food & Drug Authority
The primary authority. Requires FIRS registration, product registration, and review of every shipment via food clearance.
SASO — Saudi Standards Organization
Sets technical regulations. Most important: GSO 9 (labeling for prepackaged food) — requires Arabic labeling.
ZATCA — Zakat, Tax & Customs Authority
The customs authority. Handles duties + VAT and coordinates with SFDA to issue release permits.
Mandatory Requirements
What every shipment needs
Note: Low-volume importers (fewer than 5 shipments/year and under 2000 kg total) are exempt from the licensed-warehouse requirement.
Product Types We Handle
Comprehensive sector experience
Meat & poultry
Dairy products
Grains & legumes
Coffee
Oils & canned goods
Fruits & vegetables
Food supplements
Organic products
What We Provide
End-to-end solutions in one package
Common Sector Challenges
And how we solve them
Shipment Rejection — Halal Certificate Missing
Imported meat/poultry requires a Halal certificate from an accredited body. We verify before shipment.
Lab Inspection Delays
Some shipments are sampled. We follow the lab to speed up results and reduce delay.
Food Label Issues
Arabic labeling is mandatory. Many shipments are rejected for English-only labels.
Expiry Erosion Due to Delay
Every day of delay shortens the saleable shelf life.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does food clearance take?
Typically 24–72 hours for complete shipments. With lab testing, can extend to 5–7 days.
Is the Halal certificate mandatory?
Yes — for all meat, poultry, fish, and animal products. Must be from an SFDA-accredited Halal body. Without it = immediate rejection.
Do I need a licensed food warehouse?
Usually yes, with exceptions: local manufacturers importing raw materials and importers under 5 shipments/year with under 2000 kg total weight.
Do organic products have special requirements?
Yes — they need GSO 2374 and GSO 2532 conformity, plus a certificate from a body accredited by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
What if a product fails lab inspection?
Depends on the rejection type. Re-export, destruction, or re-testing may be allowed in specific cases.
Ready to import your food products with confidence?
A free consultation maps out your shipment’s exact requirements