Saudi Arabia Amends Import Licenses for Fruits, Vegetables

Saudi Arabia amend import licenses to ensure the sustainability of local production of fresh vegetables and fruits (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has amended its import licensing guide by adding fresh fruits and vegetables so that the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture will be the competent authority to issue these licenses, Asharq Al-Awsat learned.

Minister of Commerce Majid al-Qasabi issued a ministerial decision to add fresh fruits and vegetables to the import licensing directory, specifying the requirements, notably that the importer, whether a Saudi or a foreign investor, must be authorized.

The Ministry announced the amendment of the import licenses guide for the public via the Public Consultation Platform (Istitlaa).

It indicated that based on Paragraph (A) of Item (Third) of the Import Licenses Guide, issued by the decision of the Minister of Commerce, which resulted in amending the Import Licenses Guide by adding paragraph No. (6) to Paragraph (E) of Clause Fourth, “regulating the requirements for licenses to import fresh vegetables and fruits into the Kingdom.”

The new requirements on imported goods seek to protect humans and plants, using the international standards of the International Plant Protection Convention, which requires the monitoring of the market and collecting trade statistics.

It was essential to organize and control vegetables and fruits imported to Saudi Arabia, which led to the development of procedures to keep pace with the changes.

The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture has set controls for importing vegetables and fruits from outside the Kingdom to protect plants, support and sustain local production, and control the quality to enhance food security.

The import permit must be issued electronically within a period not exceeding three working days from the date of submitting the application, after including a copy of the commercial register or foreign investment license and specifying the imported items and quantities, import date, and the country of origin.

Under the Foreign Investment Law, the importer must be a legal Saudi licensed to practice the activity or a foreign investor licensed to practice the activity.

The importers are divided into two categories. Category (A) grants a renewable ten-year license, provided that he proves real estate ownership of the warehouses and refrigerators where shipments will be stored or commercial centers to promote the products. He must also offer ownership proof of refrigerated vehicles.

Category (B) receives a three-year license, subject to renewal. The e-permits must specify the imported items and quantities, the date of import, the country of export, the license number and date, the point of entry, the net weight and type of the shipment, and the validity period of the import permit, provided that it doesn’t exceed 60 days from the issuance date.

The Ministry and the Food and Drug General Authority can take samples from the shipment for testing in approved laboratories inside or outside the Kingdom.

The shipment must be entered through the entry point specified in the import permit.

The importer is not granted permission if he has not previously obtained an import license issued by the agent, and the permit can be extended for three days after the original period has expired.

The import permit is revoked in the event of a pandemic outbreak in the export country before launching the shipment.