Exceptions (ship stores)

Export certification is not issued for ships stores as the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021 do not apply. Ships stores are milk and milk products on ships or aircraft for the use of passengers and crew or for the service of the ships or aircraft on a voyage from Australia.

There are no known products that are prohibited for export to this market.

Saudi Arabia is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Saudi Arabia, as a member of the GCC countries, adopts Gulf Standard Organisation (GSO) food import regulations. These regulations include standards for labelling, shelf life and microbiological standards.

Refer to Section 4. Operational requirements and Section 7. Packaging, labelling and shipping marks for further information about these standards.

Milk and milk products of bovine origin are defined as prescribed goods under the Export Control Act. Production of these products for export is regulated under the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Milk and milk products manufactured from non-bovine species, for example buffalo, goat and sheep, may also need to be regulated through the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021, though this is only required when export registration and health certification from the Department is required by Saudi Arabia.

We are not aware that Saudi Arabia has any known additional requirements for the production and export of non-bovine milk and milk products.

Food additives - cheese

Saudi Arabia are implementing a new standard "Additives Permitted for Use in Food Stuffs" on 1 June 2020. The new regulation makes no provision for the use of annatto (additive) in cheese. Cheese products that contain annatto are not allowed to be sold in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 1 June 2020.

Salt limits - cheese

Saudi Arabia's Salt Reduction Standard (SFDA58:2019) restricts the amount of salt permitted in cheese exported to the Kingdom. The Department understands this standard remains a guideline, however, the standard may be actively enforced in the future.

The Department is in communication with the SFDA regarding this restriction.

Unless technical products and pharmaceutical material are prepared at an establishment that produces milk and milk products for export as food, these products are non prescribed goods. They are not regulated by the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Unless animal food is prepared at an establishment that produces milk and milk products for export as food, these products are non prescribed goods.

Saudi Arabia has no known additional requirements for Manufacturing Grade milk and milk products that differ from the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Saudi Arabia has no known additional requirements for microbial sampling of milk and milk products that differ from those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Saudi Arabia residue standards

Maximum residue limits (MRLs) or import tolerances for residues of specific agricultural and veterinary chemicals approved for use in Australia may not exist in Saudi Arabia or may be established at levels lower than those established in Australia. Maximum Limits (MLs) for contaminants may also vary between Saudi Arabia and Australia.

Food business operators should note that:

• These differences can be interrogated case-by-case by considering the Saudi Arabia ​standards and the Australian standards.
• Any detection of a residue above the Saudi Arabia MRLs/MLs (as applicable) at the border may result in rejection of the consignment.

Note

Importing country residue standards can usually be found via the official webpages of their competent authority. Links to a limited number of export markets and Australia are provided on the DAFF website.

Saudi Arabia has no known additional requirements for general operations that differ from those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Further information

As a member of the GCC, Saudi Arabia may adopt the GSO standard on microbiological limits.

Exporters should check requirements with their importer.

Saudi Arabia has no known additional hygiene requirements that differ from those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Milk and milk products that are prescribed under Australia's export rules

1. are milk or milk products derived from a bovine animal; and
2. are intended to be exported as food.

Milk and milk products that are not prescribed under Australia's export rules

Milk and milk products which do not meet the criteria under the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021 are classified by Australia as non-prescribed goods. It is the responsibility of the exporter to confirm with Saudi Arabia if there are any specific requirements for the import of these products. Typically, non-prescribed goods include, ice-cream, non-bovine milk products, colostrum and products with a minor component of dairy.

Further information on exporting non-prescribed goods from Australia is available on the Department's website.

In some cases, an importing country requires specific health certification and government oversight for what would typically be non-prescribed milk and milk products. When required, these products become prescribed under export legislation and must meet all export and importing country requirements. This includes, the products being manufactured and stored at an export registered establishment and must have a valid export permit and health certificate for each consignment. Guidance on export registration can be found at Dairy export registered establishments.

5.1.1 Health certificate for milk and milk products

For milk and milk products produced for human consumption (including milk and milk products classified as a prescribed good by an importing country), use Health certificate template ZDSA1 with endorsement 5131.

Additional endorsement 5131

The milk/milk products are safe and fit for human consumption. The milk/milk products has been derived from healthy animals. The milk/milk products was handled in an establishment that has been subjected to inspections by the competent authority and implements a food safety management system based on HACCP principals or an equivalent system. Good veterinary practices have been applied in the use of veterinary medicines (including growth promoters) and agriculture chemicals in live animals and any residues in milk or milk products comply with importing country requirements.

Exporter declaration

Whenever export documentation is obtained, the exporter must provide a declaration stating that all the information provided in the permit is true and complete. They must also state that they are in possession of a declaration of compliance that:

1. applies to the milk and milk products
   
2. complies with the requirements of the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.
   

Transit Certification Requirements

Milk and milk products transiting the European Union or the United States may require transit documentation. These certificates are available as additional certificates through the EXDOC system. If the product is transiting the United States, standard certification is required and the exporter should contact the Department for advice on how this certification may be issued. If the product is transiting a European Union member state, see the particular European Union member state regarding the certificate template to select.

For Manufacturing Grade milk and milk products, use the ZD016 Certificate as to Condition for Manufacturing Grade products.

The ZD016 Certificate as to Condition contains the following attestations:

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:

1. In sound condition
2. Of Australian Origin
   

The ZD001 Certificate as to Condition may be issued for technical products and pharmaceutical material.

The ZD001 Certificate contains the following attestations:

I certify to the best of my knowledge that the information on this form is true and correct in every particular details and that the product described above is of Australian origin and is acceptable for sale in Australia.

The ZD015 Certificate as to Condition for Stockfood or the E242A Declaration and Certificate for Shipments of Inedible Animal Products can be issued for stockfood made from milk and milk products.

The ZD015 Certificate contains the following attestations:

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:

1. In sound condition
2. Of Australian Origin
   

The E242A Declaration and Certificate contains the following attestations:

It has been declared to me, a duly qualified veterinary surgeon in the employ of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia and I have no reason to doubt the products described above were derived from animals of Australian origin and the products were treated solely within Australia. I further certify that foot-and-mouth disease and rinderpest do not exist in Australia.

It is the responsibility of exporters to determine through their importers if export certification is required for consignments and trade samples that are less than 10 kilograms or 10 litres, as an export permit is not required.

The ZX01 Certificate as to Dioxin Status of Australian Dairy Products is available on request.

European Union (EU) transit certificates are available for consignments transiting the EU. Refer to the EU documentation requirements for edible products for the reference numbers and attestations in these certificates.

Exporters should ensure that their importer complies with any requirements to obtain a permit for imports into Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has no known specific requirements for packaging in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Saudi Arabia has no known specific requirements for labelling in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Saudi Arabia prescribes shelf life for certain dairy products. Exporters should check details with their importer.

Saudi Arabia has no other known specific requirements for shelf life restrictions other than those provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.

Saudi Arabia has no known specific requirements for shipping marks (port marks).

As a member of the GCC, Saudi Arabia may adopt the GSO standard on labelling of pre-packaged foods and the GSO standard on expiry dates for products.

Exporters should check requirements with their importer.