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Selling pet food in Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, pet food is feed, regulated by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) under the Feed Act and its Regulation. Importers and establishments are licensed in SFDA's National Feed Registration System (AFNR), products are registered before they are handled, and labels follow SFDA's registration guide. Imports need an import licence and registered products.

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

Regulator
Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)
Law
Feed Act and its Regulation
Licensing
National Feed Registration System (AFNR)
Registration type
Compound feed for pet animals (dogs and cats)
Pork
Products should not contain pork or its derivatives
Clearance records
Originals kept for 5 years

Before a product goes on sale

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

  1. 1Are the importer and the establishment licensed in AFNR? Read more
  2. 2Is each product registered with SFDA, with a current free sale certificate? Read more
  3. 3Does the label carry the particulars SFDA's guide requires? Read more
  4. 4Which certificates does the shipment need? Read more
  5. 5Can you trace and recall a product? Read more

The rules, by area

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

Licensing

Who must hold an SFDA licence to import, make or store feed.

  • The feed importer is licensed by SFDA in the National Feed Registration System (AFNR).
  • The feed establishment is also licensed by SFDA in AFNR.
  • Release of imported feed requires a valid import licence, registered products, compliance with the technical regulations and the documents SFDA asks for (Article 5 of the Regulation).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the AFNR licences on record with their expiry dates and shows when one is due. Ask about this

Product registration

How pet food is registered with SFDA, and what the registration holds.

  • Feed business operators register their products with SFDA (Article 12 of the Regulation); feed that is not registered may not be handled (Article 15).
  • SFDA's registration guide lists compound feed for "Pet animals (dogs and cats)" among the feed types.
  • Imported products are registered with a label meeting SFDA's requirements, a statement of components from the producer no more than two years old, and a free sale certificate no more than two years old.
  • If any component changes, SFDA treats the product as a new product.
  • A renewal application is submitted when the registration expires, or up to a month before.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the component statement and free sale certificate with each product, and shows when either passes two years. Ask about this

Labelling

The particulars SFDA's guide requires on a feed label.

  • The product name must not mislead, and must not name a component that is not in the product.
  • The label states the feed type, the components (with the animal species for animal-origin protein), the chemical analysis per kilogram or litre, the method of use, warnings, and the expiry date.
  • The label names the manufacturer, any exporting company, the country of production and contact details.
  • Colours and flavours are listed among the components, or in the statement of components filed with the registration.
  • SFDA's guide says products should not contain pork or its derivatives.

How we help: Upload the label and Compliant Always reads it against the particulars in SFDA's registration guide, and sets the components beside the registered statement. Ask about this

Import clearance

SFDA's general conditions to clear feed products and pet food.

  • Shipments carry a phytosanitary certificate, a health certificate for products with animal-origin ingredients, a certificate of origin, a copy of the customs declaration and the purchase invoice.
  • Labels meet the requirements SFDA publishes; transport follows SFDA.FD40 on packed and bulk feed.
  • SFDA may take samples for testing at the importer's cost; the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture may test natural plant-based feed.
  • Importers keep the original documents for five years from clearance (SFDA circular No. 47084).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the certificates each shipment needs with the product and lot, and shows what is missing before it leaves. Ask about this

Advertising, traceability and recall

What the Feed Regulation says about adverts, tracing and recalls.

  • Feed may be advertised only with SFDA authorisation; the product must be registered and the advert consistent with the label (Article 7).
  • Operators can identify the source and suppliers of their feed and give SFDA information on request (Article 12).
  • If an operator knows or suspects a product breaches SFDA rules, it recalls it immediately, notifies SFDA, and reports the recall in two daily newspapers as SFDA deems appropriate (Article 14).
  • Feed with prohibited ingredients, additives or contaminants above the limits, or past its shelf life may not be handled (Article 15).

How we help: Compliant Always ties each lot to its supplier and documents, so a trace or recall starts from the record. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
ImporterAn AFNR licence, registered products, clearance documents and five-year records.Licences and shipment certificates kept with their dates.
ManufacturerThe statement of components, the free sale certificate and a label that matches the registration.Component statements read against the label and kept current.
Feed business operatorTraceability, recall and handling only registered feed (Articles 12, 14 and 15).Lots linked to suppliers, ready for a recall question.

Questions businesses ask

Is pet food regulated as feed in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. SFDA regulates it under the Feed Act and its Regulation; SFDA's clearance conditions are titled "General Conditions to Clear Feed Products and Pet Food".
Do I need to register pet food with SFDA?
Yes. Feed operators register their products with SFDA, and feed that is not registered may not be handled. SFDA's registration guide lists compound feed for dogs and cats as a feed type.
What is AFNR?
SFDA's National Feed Registration System, in which feed importers and feed establishments are licensed.
What documents does SFDA need to register imported pet food?
A label meeting SFDA's requirements, a statement of components from the producer, and a free sale certificate, each no more than two years old, among others.
What must a pet food label show in Saudi Arabia?
The product name, feed type, components, chemical analysis, method of use, warnings, expiry date, and the manufacturer, exporter and country of production.
Can pet food contain pork in Saudi Arabia?
SFDA's feed registration guide says products should not contain pork or its derivatives.
Which certificates does a pet food shipment need?
A phytosanitary certificate, a health certificate for animal-origin ingredients, a certificate of origin, the customs declaration and the purchase invoice.
Do I need permission to advertise pet food in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Feed may be advertised only with SFDA authorisation, the product must be registered, and the advert must be consistent with the label (Article 7).
What happens if a pet food has to be recalled in Saudi Arabia?
The operator recalls it immediately, notifies SFDA, follows its directions and reports the recall in two daily newspapers as SFDA deems appropriate (Article 14).
How long must pet food clearance documents be kept?
Five years from clearance, under SFDA circular No. 47084.
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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