May 2024

On May 24, 2024, SASO released updated standards that have been approved for use as Saudi Standards.

See pdf attachment May 2024 Newsletter - 20240524 SASO Standards Update - EN.pdf

On May 15, 2024, SASO released a circular reflecting the updated standard specifications (SASO IEC 62680-1-2:2017 and SASO IEC 62680-1-3:2017) that will unify charger ports for smartphones and electronic devices. All products will need to be in compliance with the specifications starting August 1, 2024.

On January 5, 2024, SASO released updated standards that have been approved for use as Saudi Standards.

See pdf attachment May 2024 Newsletter - 20240105 SASO Standards Update - EN.pdf

On April 3, 2024, GSO introduced updated requirements concerning the acceptance period of test reports and their traceability to products applied for G Mark certification that are effective immediately.

1. Maximum Acceptance Period for Test Results for Gulf Type Examination certification is not to exceed three (3) years from the date of actual test performance and will be measured by the date of the issued test report.

2. Traceability of the test reports to the products applied for certification require the following information:

   1. Explicit reference to the manufacturer, brand, and model of the products

   2. Manufacturing location which must match the information in the certification application

   3. Photos sufficient for identification

3. Product Identity Declaration (PID) is required for certifications where the model is not specifically listed in the test report but is considered represented by the models actually tested. The PID has the following requirements:

   1. PID must be signed by an authorized person on behalf of the manufacturer or his authorized representative and must be generated on company letterhead.

   2. The Notified Body will include the PID in the certification documentation that is uploaded to the GCTS platform.

   3. Non-technical variances (e.g. branding)

4. Transition Period and Implementation

   1. The updated guidelines take effect immediately following the announcement.

   2. There will be a transition period extending to July 30, 2024.

On March 13, 2024, GSO announced that the recently held adoption of standard IEC 60335-2-24:2020 (Edition 8) has been released. The adoption of this latest standard automatically initiates a two-year transition period and full compliance is mandatory as of January 31, 2026.