Certificate of Conformity for Food Exports to Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has introduced the Food Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) to support the registration of regulated food products prior to their placement on the market in Saudi Arabia.

This certificate complements the existing Food Consignment Certificate of Conformity by focusing on product-level compliance before export, in addition to the consignment-based verification at shipment stage.

PCoC certification is designed to support the SFDA GHAD product registration system, ensuring that regulated food products meet Saudi technical regulations, safety requirements, and applicable standards before market entry.

As an SFDA-designated Conformity Assessment Body (CAB), Intertek is authorised to issue PCoC certificates for eligible food products within the defined scope.

How PCoC Differs from the Food Consignment CoC

• PCoC (Product Certification):

Applied prior to product registration in GHAD Focuses on product compliance and regulatory approval

• Food Consignment CoC (Shipment Certification):

Applied per shipment prior to export Ensures smooth customs clearance at Saudi borders

Together, these certifications provide end-to-end assurance, from product approval to shipment clearance.

PCoC Requirements

Key elements of the programme include:

• Certification for regulated food products to support GHAD registration
• Mandatory sampling and testing in accordance with SFDA standards
• Quality Management System (QMS) verification (minimum HACCP)
• Factory audit required where QMS is not implemented
• Submission of application, documentation, and technical review via ASTRA
• Manual issuance of PCoC using SFDA-approved templates

Scope of Products Covered

The PCoC programme applies only to specific regulated food categories:

Infant Formula & Baby Foods

• Infant formula
• Follow-up formula
• Cereal-based baby foods
• Complementary foods
• Specialised infant nutrition

Food Supplements, Energy Drinks & Special Use Products

• Protein powders and sports nutrition
• Amino acids, creatine, BCAA products
• Pre- and post-workout formulas
• Vitamin and mineral fortified products
• Energy drinks and caffeine/taurine-containing products

Approved Countries of Origin

PCoC certification is restricted to products manufactured in the following countries:

• Germany
• Egypt
• United Kingdom
• Spain
• China
• France
• United Arab Emirates
• Saudi Arabia
• United States
• Netherlands

Certification Process

1.  Contact your local Intertek office – details are available in the contact us section of this site

2.  Submit application and required documentation

3.  Product undergoes sampling and testing followed by technical review

4.  QMS verification or factory audit conducted where required

5.  PCoC issued upon successful compliance

Why Intertek

As an SFDA-appointed designated Conformity Assessment Body, Intertek provides:

• Expertise in Saudi food regulations and compliance
• Integrated support across both product and consignment certification
• Global network with local market knowledge
• Efficient certification processes to reduce delays and risks

By partnering with Intertek, exporters and manufacturers can ensure regulatory compliance, faster approvals, and confident access to the Saudi market.

End-to-End Compliance for Saudi Arabia

Intertek supports your full compliance journey:

• PCoC Certification → Product registration (GHAD)
• Food Consignment CoC → Shipment clearance

This integrated approach ensures your products are compliant before export, reducing risk and improving speed to market.

FAQs about the Saudi Food Programme

The SFDA Food Consignment Certification Programme (FCCP) is a product conformity assessment scheme with the main objective of ensuring that Food products imported to Saudi Arabia complies with the requirements mandated by SFDA.

Have also your questions about the FCCP answers with this FAQ.

Learn More