International Affairs | SASO

The scope of work of this Committee includes monitoring the implementation of the Kingdom’s obligations under the TBT Agreement and ensuring the alignment of technical regulations and standards with the requirements of the Agreement. It further includes coordinating the Kingdom’s positions in the formal meetings of the TBT Committee at WTO, supporting the private sector through awareness and capacity-building, and contributing to the development of related policies aimed at facilitating trade and ensuring product safety.

The Permanent Committee is chaired by Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), and includes representatives from:

• Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources
• Ministry of Investment
• Ministry of Economy and Planning
• General Authority for Foreign Trade
• Saudi Food and Drug Authority
• Saudi Export Development Authority
• Communications, Space and Technology Commission
• Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority
• National Competitiveness Center
• Two (2) representatives from the private sector, appointed by the Minister of Commerce, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), based on nomination from the Federation of Saudi Chambers

• To unify the Kingdom’s position regarding the activities and work under the TBT Agreement.
• To prepare for and address trade concerns raised by WTO Members in light of the TBT Agreement.
• To enable the private sector in the Kingdom to review technical regulations, mandatory standards, and conformity assessment procedures notified by WTO Members, in a manner that enables the preparation of comments on technical requirements in coordination with the Saudi Export Development Authority and the relevant entities and committees.
• To recommend to the General Authority for Foreign Trade the submission of trade concerns by the Kingdom to WTO Members, when necessary.
• To provide technical opinions in response to inquiries received from WTO Members during bilateral meetings regarding Saudi technical regulations and mandatory standards in light of the TBT Agreement, and respond to such Members in order to avoid the raising of trade concerns against the Kingdom in this regard.
• To participate in the periodic meetings of the TBT Committee and to review the documents and procedures issued by the Committee.
• To submit Comments in Response to Notifications on Technical Regulations, Mandatory Standards and Conformity Assessment Procedures Issued by WTO Members pursuant to the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement: (https://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/17-tbt_e.htm)
• In accordance with the obligations stipulated under this Agreement, each WTO Member designates a national Enquiry Point authorized to receive comments and official communications from other national Enquiry Points, which are not part of WTO or its Secretariat. For the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the TBT Enquiry Point and Notification Authority is located within Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO).
• Notifications submitted by WTO Members to the TBT Committee are available through the ePing Platform (https://www.epingalert.org/) , which is maintained by WTO and enables all interested persons to monitor notifications and register to receive customized e-mail alerts.
• Comments received by the Saudi TBT Enquiry Point from Saudi stakeholders are not transmitted to, nor shared with, WTO Secretariat or the WTO Members as a whole. Such comments are shared by the Saudi Enquiry Point with the Enquiry Point of the notifying WTO Member and with the relevant governmental entities within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Comments are communicated solely on a bilateral basis with the notifying WTO Member, or with WTO Members issuing regional notifications. WTO Members are not obligated to consider comments submitted outside the framework of official communication from the Saudi Enquiry Point to another WTO Member’s Enquiry Point.

• To inform the Permanent Committee of the technical challenges and barriers facing national exporters;
• To assist in maintaining awareness of transparency obligations and regulation in a manner that is not more trade-restrictive than necessary;
• To provide the necessary information to initiate the addressing of technical challenges within the framework of the WTO TBT Committee.

enquirypoint@saso.gov.sa
‎+966 11 252 9095
SAMI ALNOKHILAN
Secretary of Technical Barriers to Trade Permanent Committee

• Enable the private sector and stakeholders to directly and effectively access information related to technical barriers to trade.
• Enhance transparency in the development and implementation of technical measures (technical regulations and mandatory standards).
• Support Saudi exports and imports by addressing technical enquiries related to TBT Agreement notifications under the World Trade Organization (WTO-TBT).
• Prevent the creation of unnecessary technical barriers to trade.

• Respond to enquiries related to the TBT Agreement received from WTO Members.
• Submit Saudi Arabia’s enquiries to other Members regarding draft mandatory standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures.
• Provide technical information to the private sector and relevant stakeholders, both inside and outside the Kingdom.
• Provide relevant documents in coordination with WTO Members’ Enquiry Points.
• Manage and operate the Enquiry Point using electronic systems and tools, with continuous updates.

• Enquire about technical requirements for exporting or importing products.
• Access draft technical regulations and mandatory standards proposed by WTO Members.
• Obtain information on conformity assessment procedures.
• Follow technical notifications issued by WTO Members.

The National Contact Point for Technical Barriers to Trade contributes to enhancing the awareness of the private sector and stakeholders regarding notifications on technical measures issued by WTO Members, by guiding them to approved electronic platforms, such as the ePing platform Home - ePing SPS&TBT platform), to follow draft mandatory standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures of interest. This enables early access and the timely submission of comments (prior to the entry into force of the regulation).

Through the electronic platform “ (Home - ePing SPS&TBT platform ) ” it is possible to track technical regulations and mandatory standards that outline the technical requirements for products in the markets of World Trade Organization (WTO) Members. These are available to interested government and private sector stakeholders for review and for submitting comments on notifications, to help ensure alignment with international practices.

• Private sector entities (manufacturers, exporters, importers).
• Government authorities related to trade.
• The Federation of Saudi Chambers.
• Investors
• Individuals and entities interested in technical requirements for goods (technical regulations, mandatory standards, and conformity assessment procedures) related to trade.

WTO Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee has issued a Good Practice Guide for commenting on TBT notifications (document symbol G/TBT/GEN/386). This guide assists interested parties in commenting on technical regulations, mandatory standards, and conformity assessment procedures notified by WTO Members. Relevant authorities in the Kingdom are requested to submit their comments as an email attachment to: enquirypoint@saso.gov.sa The concerned authorities in the Kingdom shall follow the guidance below when preparing and submitting comments to the Saudi Enquiry Point.

• Submission of Comments in Response to Notifications on Technical Regulations, Mandatory Standards and Conformity Assessment Procedures Issued by WTO Members pursuant to the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement: (https://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/17-tbt_e.htm )
• In accordance with the obligations stipulated under this Agreement, each WTO Member designates a national Enquiry Point authorized to receive comments and official communications from other national Enquiry Points, which are not part of WTO or its Secretariat. For the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the TBT Enquiry Point and Notification Authority is located within Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO).
• Notifications submitted by WTO Members to the TBT Committee are available through the ePing Platform (https://www.epingalert.org ) , which is maintained by WTO and enables all interested persons to monitor notifications and register to receive customized e-mail alerts.
• Comments received by the Saudi TBT Enquiry Point from Saudi stakeholders are not transmitted to, nor shared with, WTO Secretariat or WTO Members as a whole. Such comments are shared by the Saudi Enquiry Point with the Enquiry Point of the notifying WTO Member and with the relevant governmental entities within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Comments are communicated solely on a bilateral basis with the notifying WTO Member, or with WTO Members issuing regional notifications. WTO Members are not obligated to consider comments submitted outside the framework of official communication from the Saudi Enquiry Point to another WTO Member’s Enquiry Point.

• Comments shall be submitted to the Saudi Enquiry Point at least fifteen (15) business days prior to the comment deadline.
• Avoid sending comments on the final date specified for the notification.
• If additional time is required after the deadline set by the notifying WTO Member, please contact the Saudi Enquiry Point at least one week in advance to request an extension. The request will be transmitted to the notifying Member, and acceptance of the extension remains at the discretion of that Member.

• Notification title and symbol.
• Full contact information of the submitting entity.
• Description of the issue (with supporting documents if available).
• Potential impacts that may hinder national product exports from accessing international markets.
• Proposed amendments to the draft regulation or conformity assessment procedure to ensure the measure is not more trade-restrictive than necessary.
• Suggested alternative or updated international standards for the product.
• Any additional questions regarding the draft measure.
• If meeting the proposed entry-into-force date is difficult, please include a proposed alternative date with technical justification

• The Saudi Enquiry Point will review submitted comments to ensure compliance with the above basic guidance.
• If the comments meet the requirements, they will be transmitted to the notifying Member’s national TBT Enquiry Point via e-mail.

enquirypoint@saso.gov.sa
‎+966 11 252 9095
SAMI ALNOKHILAN
Manager of Policies and Technical Barriers Department
You may also access and communicate with WTO Members’ TBT Enquiry Points through WTO ePing platform:
https://eping.wto.org/en/EnquiryPoint/tbt-nep