The Saudi Arabia Standards Organization (SASO) has issued new regulations on communication equipment. The new regulations stipulate that when relevant equipment products apply for a Product Certification Certificate (PCOC) for import into Saudi Arabia, they must be uniformly equipped and used with a USB Type-C interface. This regulation will be implemented from August 1, 2024. In addition, for mobile phones, tablets, e-readers, portable gaming devices, headphones, wired and wireless in-ear headphones, headsets and other products, the mandatory time required by Type-C is January 1, 2025; for notebook computers, Type-C requires that the mandatory time be April 1, 2026, which is the same as the mandatory time required by the EU RED Supplementary Directive.
　　
Content of the new regulation:
　　
In order to ensure that relevant products comply with the new regulations, each manufacturer needs to produce in accordance with the updated standards SASO IEC 62680-1-2:2017 and SASO IEC 62680-1-3:2017. Products that meet the new standards will receive certificates of compliance before they can be sold in the Saudi market.
　　
The following are some of the products and customs codes involved in this change:
　　
At the same time, starting from October 1, 2024, PCOC certificates that have been obtained must be updated. PCOC certificates that have been issued but fail to meet the requirements of the new regulations will not be used to apply for SCOC, and the original certificates will also be cancelled by SASO.
　　
Conclusion:
　　
Saudi Arabia requires all companies and suppliers operating in the country’s market to comply with the USB Type-C standard and comply with the technical and management specifications of relevant technical regulations and standards. This initiative aims to improve user experience, ensure high-quality charging and data transmission technologies, reduce the generation of e-waste and promote environmental sustainability. To ensure that your products can enter the Saudi market smoothly, please pay attention to this important change.