Saudi Arabia postpones restriction of hazardous substances

UPDATE as of June 1st, 2022

Saudi Arabia Announces Restriction of Certain Hazardous Substances Requirements in 2022

View update here

The Saudi Arabian authority SASO (Saudi Standards & Metrology Organization) has decided that implementation of the regulation for Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) which was planned for 5 January this year has been postponed for a period of six months.

The regulation was published by SASO in July 2021 and concerns the following six chemical substances: Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Hexavalent chromium, Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).

Relevant products must be tested/assessed to ensure that any content of the restricted substances do not exceed defined limits. The concerned substances as well as the limits are in line with the European RoHS Directive, (while this Directive has since 2015 also restricted four additional substances).

Another important difference from the European RoHS Directive is that self-declaration will not be sufficient. The manufacturer or importer must arrange for necessary testing/assessment and certification of the products by a designated Notified Body, such as Nemko.

The regulation will apply to most electrical and electronic equipment. Exceptions include Medical devices, Military equipment, Large-scale industrial stationary machinery, Large-scale fixed installations and Aerospace equipment.

The implementation is postponed for allowing time to prepare, and will be made effective in phases as shown below:
       

For further information, please contact Lars.Hjerpseth@nemko.com

(Based on blog by Lars Hjerpseth, edited by T.Sollie)