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Selling cosmetics in Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, cosmetics are regulated by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) under the Cosmetic Products Law (Royal Decree M/49) and its Implementing Regulation. A product may not be imported or traded until it is listed with SFDA, through notification in the Unified Electronic System (GHAD). Labels follow SFDA.CO/GSO 1943, and the notifier answers for safety.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Regulator
Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)
Law
Cosmetic Products Law, Royal Decree M/49 of 18/6/1436 AH
Before sale
Notification (listing) in SFDA's GHAD system
Label and safety
SFDA.CO/GSO 1943
Claims
SFDA.CO/GSO 2528
Recall report to SFDA
Within 10 calendar days

Before a product goes on sale

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Is it a cosmetic, or does a claim make it a drug or health product? Read more
  2. 2Are the ingredients within SFDA's prohibited and restricted lists? Read more
  3. 3Is the product notified in GHAD, with the documents SFDA asks for? Read more
  4. 4Does the label carry the particulars, with claims that can be substantiated? Read more
  5. 5Is the product information file ready, and who reports problems? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Notification in GHAD

Listing a cosmetic with SFDA before it is imported or traded.

  • A cosmetic product may not be imported or traded in Saudi Arabia until it is listed by SFDA (Article 6 of the Law).
  • SFDA's notification guidance says the product is listed in the Unified Electronic System (GHAD); notification is processed on submission, on the notifier's commitments.
  • Documents include a commercial registration with a cosmetics activity, a MISA licence for foreign companies, a notarised authorisation from the manufacturer, the label artwork, a product picture and the ingredient list.
  • Each size, colour or variation carries its own barcode; the label should not indicate that the product is notified.
  • Cosmetic products may not be advertised or promoted before they are listed (Article 21).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the notification record, the label artwork and the authorisations together, dated, and shows when a label on sale has moved away from what was notified. Ask about this

Ingredients

The substances SFDA prohibits or restricts, and how ingredients are declared.

  • SFDA publishes lists of prohibited and restricted substances in cosmetic products, and updates them periodically (Article 4).
  • SFDA also publishes the preservatives and colourants allowed in cosmetics.
  • On notification, each ingredient is entered with its concentration and function, by INCI name and CAS number.
  • A product is unsafe if it contains a banned substance or a restricted one outside its conditions, or if warnings or the full ingredients are missing from the pack (Circular 9-1-L).

How we help: Upload the formula and Compliant Always reads each ingredient against SFDA's prohibited, restricted, preservative and colourant lists, with the limit beside it. Ask about this

Labelling and claims

What the pack shows, and the standards for safety and claims.

  • Label artwork must comply with the Law and SFDA.CO/GSO 1943 (safety requirements of cosmetics and personal care products).
  • Each product shows its name and trade name, the factory and manufacturer with addresses, validity, warnings, function and use, the ingredients, production date or batch number, size or net weight, country of origin and storage instructions (Circular 11-1-L).
  • SFDA specifies which data is written in Arabic on the product (Circular 11-2-L).
  • Claims follow SFDA.CO/GSO 2528; SFDA offers a cosmetic claim compliance certificate on submission of the label and the claim substantiation.
  • SFDA lists medical claims, products not matching the notified data, and failing SFDA.CO/GSO 1943 or 2528 among frequent problems at clearance.

How we help: Upload the label and Compliant Always reads it against the particulars and SFDA.CO/GSO 1943, and keeps the substantiation for each claim with the product. Ask about this

Product file, reporting and recall

What the notifier keeps and reports once the product is on sale.

  • The lister answers for the product's safety, and keeps the cosmetic product information file to give to SFDA on request (Articles 9 and 10); SFDA's guidance refers to SFDA.CO 6000:2020 for the file.
  • The lister reports harm caused by the product, manufacturing defects and recalls in any country, changes to the product, and misuse (Article 10).
  • Recalls are reported to SFDA within 10 calendar days; serious undesirable effects and manufacturing errors within 20 calendar days, through the Saudi Vigilance system.
  • The listing certificate is valid for five years; renewal is applied for 90 days before it expires (Circulars 6-1-L and 6-2-L).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the product information file's documents with the product and lot, dated, and shows what is missing or expiring. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
Notifier (lister)Notification, safety, the product information file and reporting to SFDA.The file's documents kept together, with gaps and expiry dates shown.
ManufacturerA formula within SFDA's lists, and the authorisation letter for the notifier.Formula and specifications read against the lists, ready for a notifier's questionnaire.
ImporterBringing in only notified products that match the notified data.Shipment documents kept with the product and lot.
BrandClaims that meet SFDA.CO/GSO 2528 and a label that matches what was notified.Claims and their evidence kept with the label.

Questions businesses ask

Do I need to register cosmetics in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. A cosmetic may not be imported or traded until it is listed by SFDA (Article 6, Cosmetic Products Law). Listing is by notification in SFDA's Unified Electronic System (GHAD).
What is GHAD?
SFDA's Unified Electronic System, in which cosmetic products are notified and listed before import or trade, and in which food establishments and products are registered.
How long is a cosmetic listing valid in Saudi Arabia?
The listing certificate is valid for five years from issue. Renewal is applied for 90 days before it expires; an expired, unrenewed listing is invalid.
What documents does SFDA need for cosmetic notification?
A commercial registration with a cosmetics activity, a MISA licence for foreign companies, a notarised manufacturer authorisation, the label artwork, a product picture and the ingredient list with concentrations.
What must a cosmetic label show in Saudi Arabia?
Name and trade name, factory and manufacturer with addresses, validity, warnings, function and use, ingredients, production date or batch, size or net weight, country of origin and storage instructions.
Which standard covers cosmetic labelling in Saudi Arabia?
SFDA.CO/GSO 1943, safety requirements of cosmetics and personal care products. Claims follow SFDA.CO/GSO 2528.
Does SFDA ban ingredients in cosmetics?
Yes. SFDA publishes lists of prohibited and restricted substances, and of allowed preservatives and colourants, and updates them periodically.
Can I advertise cosmetics before they are listed in Saudi Arabia?
No. Article 21 of the Law prohibits advertising or promoting a cosmetic before listing, and adverts must not be contrary to Islamic law and public morals.
How quickly must a cosmetic recall be reported to SFDA?
Within 10 calendar days. Serious undesirable effects and manufacturing errors are reported within 20 calendar days, through the Saudi Vigilance system.
Who is responsible for a cosmetic's safety in Saudi Arabia?
The lister (notifier). It answers for safety, keeps the product information file, and reports harm, defects, recalls abroad, changes and misuse to SFDA.
How does Compliant Always help with selling in Saudi Arabia?
Our team reads the rules for the markets you sell in, including SFDA and SASO requirements. Compliant Always shows which apply to your product, keeps the documents behind each one ready, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in Saudi Arabia and what your paperwork needs to show.

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