KSA and GCC food regulations are developed with reference to internationally recognized food safety frameworks:

• Codex Alimentarius Commission (FAO/WHO)

• International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

• European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

• Official GCC technical regulations found at the Online Standards Store.

The primary regulatory bodies overseeing this pipeline are the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), and Faseh Food System portal.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is the primary independent regulatory and supervisory body in Saudi Arabia, responsible for protecting public health by ensuring the safety, quality, and efficacy of food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics. All foreign exporting establishments (farms/packhouses in Lebanon) and their products must be logged into active digital accounts on the SFDA Platform

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA)

The Saudi importers must submit an electronic application through the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s portal to receive an import permit. Licensing is divided into Class A (10-year validity) and Class B (3-year validity) depending on cold-storage ownership.

Faseh Food System Portal:

A customs declaration must be submitted via the Faseh Services System at least 48 hours prior to the shipment's arrival at the Saudi port.

Before exporting avocados to Saudi Arabia (KSA), exporters and importers must complete the required digital registrations through Saudi platforms. This ensures that products meet Saudi food safety, quality, and labeling requirements.

Key Requirements for Users

• MEWA Import Permit:
  The Saudi importer must obtain an import permit through the MEWA Digital Portal before shipment departure.
• SFDA Registration:
  Exporters and importers must have active accounts on the SFDA GHAD Platform and register the avocado products.
• Fasah Customs Declaration:
  The import declaration must be submitted electronically through the Faseh Services System Platform at least 48 hours before shipment arrival.
• Required Documents:
  Each shipment must include the required documentation:
  
  • Bill of entry
  • Delivery order
  • Phytosanitary/health certificate
  • Certificate of origin
  • Product Compliance
    Avocados must meet KSA requirements for:
    • Product quality
    • Pesticide residue limits (MRLs)
    • Packaging and labeling standards

Avocado shipments may be subject to:

• Security Screening: X-ray and physical inspection at Saudi borders.

• Laboratory Testing: Random samples may be tested for pesticide residues, chemical contaminants, or heavy metals.

Each shipment of fresh Lebanese avocados entering KSA must be supported by the following documents:

Avocados exported to KSA must be:

Healthy and clean

• Whole, fresh, and free from pests, diseases, damage, foreign smell, or taste

• Free from rotting, deterioration, and chilling injury

Properly harvested and matured

• Stalk must be cleanly cut and not exceed 10 mm

• Fruit must be fully developed and mature

• For Hass avocados, minimum 24% dry matter is recommended to ensure proper ripening after transport

Uniformly packed

• Fruits must be sorted by size and packed consistently by weight or count

Under GSO 2131:2015, avocados are classified into three quality classes:

Exporter Rule:

All cartons within the same shipment must have the same quality class and consistent quality.

Avocados must be sorted according to standardized sizes.

Key requirements:

Fruit sizes range from:

Size 10: Large fruit (>375 g/fruit)

Size 30: Small fruit (125–145 g/fruit)

Fruit weight variation within the same carton must be limited:

Maximum difference: 25 g for smaller sizes

Maximum difference: 50 g for larger sizes

Cartons must have consistent fruit size to avoid buyer rejection.

Avocados exported to KSA must comply with pesticide residue limits (MRLs) according to:

• GSO 382/2020 – Maximum Levels of Pesticides Residues in Agricultural and Food Products

• GSO 2532/2016 – Maximum limits for pesticide residues in organic food

• Codex Alimentarius MRL standards (when applicable)

Important Rules

Any banned pesticide detection may lead to shipment rejection.

If a pesticide is not listed in approved standards, a default limit of 0.01 mg/kg applies.

Non-compliance may result in:

Shipment rejection

Destruction of products

Re-export at exporter’s cost

Indicative MRL Examples (Avocados)

Packaging materials must:

• Be food-grade and safe

• Prevent chemical migration to fruit

• Comply with food-contact material requirements (Codex Standard 193/1995)

Any post-harvest treatment must be:

Approved by authorities

Declared in documentation

Within GCC permitted limits

If avocados are marketed as organic in KSA:

• Product must comply with GSO 2532/2016.

• Organic certification must be valid and recognized.

• Maximum total pesticide residue: 0.01 mg/kg.

• Products exceeding this limit cannot be sold as organic.

KSA applies Codex-based hygiene requirements to protect food safety. Relevant standards:

• GSO 1694/2005 – General Principles of Food Hygiene

• GSO 1016/2017 – Microbiological Criteria for Food Stuffs

Exporters should apply:

• Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)

• Good Hygienic Practices (GHP)

• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) during handling and packing

Recommended materials include:

• Corrugated cardboard cartons

• Solid cardboard boxes

• Food-grade plastic crates

Important Rules

Exporters must ensure that packaging:

• Is strong enough to prevent crushing and fruit damage.

• Does not use strong-smelling wood or chemically treated materials.

• Uses only food-safe inks, adhesives, and coatings.

• Uses recycled materials only when they are certified food-grade.

To improve shelf life and transport quality:

• Perforated films: Improve airflow and moisture control.

• Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP): Helps slow avocado ripening.

Each outer carton or crate must have a clear label in Arabic or Arabic and English. The label should include:

• Product name: Fresh Avocados

• Variety: Hass, Fuerte, Lamb Hass, etc.

• Country of origin: Product of Lebanon

• Exporter and packer details: Name and full address of the packing facility in Lebanon

• Packing date: DD-MM-YYYY format

• Net and gross weight

• Storage conditions: For example, cold-chain or temperature instructions

• Quality grade: Extra Class, Class I, or Class II

Important Note

Fresh avocados must not include added ingredients. If avocados are mixed with other items or processed, they may no longer be treated as fresh produce and may need to follow additional labeling rules.

A QR code or barcode is recommended on the label or master pallet label. This can help Saudi authorities and buyers quickly verify:

• Farm or supplier information

• Packing house details

• Batch or lot number

• Export documents

• Traceability records

Quick Checklist for Exporters

For fresh fruits and vegetables, labels should include:

• Production date or harvest year, where required

• Packing date

• Product barcode, where applicable

An expiry date is usually not required for fresh fruits and vegetables.

Important Rules

• Labels must be approved before shipment.

• Labels cannot usually be corrected after arrival.

• Any change in label, barcode, packaging, or weight may require new approval.

• Each barcode should be linked to one product only.

If stickers are used, they must:

• Not cover mandatory label information

• Match the approved label information

• Be applied before export

• Be permanent and not easily removable

• Not be used to add or change production or expiry dates

• Be approved by KSA authorities, where required

Exporters should be careful when adding marketing or nutrition claims to avocado labels. Claims must comply with:

• GSO CAC GL 1/2008 – General Claims Guidelines

• GSO 2333/2019 – Nutrition and Health Claims

• GSO 2233/2021 – Nutrition Labeling Requirements

• GSO 2576/2021 – Marketing Terms on Labels

Avoid using claims unless they are true and supported by documents. Examples of claims that need proof:

• “Premium”

• “Healthy Fats”

• “High Fiber”

• “Organic”

• “GMO-free”

• “Natural”

Claim Examples

Only use the word “organic” if the avocados are officially certified organic. If avocados are labeled or marketed as organic in KSA, they must comply with:

• GSO 2374/2014 – Labeling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods

Organic avocados must:

• Come from certified organic farms

• Have a valid organic certificate

• Show the approved organic logo, where required

• Be supported by documents recognized by KSA authorities

If the product is organic but the word “organic” is not used on the label or in marketing, an organic certificate may not be required for labeling purposes.