Saudi Arabia’s Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) has updated its mandatory certification requirements for aquaculture equipment, effective 26 May 2026. The revision to SASO IEC 60335-2-109:2026 formally brings Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), aeration equipment, and water treatment technologies under the scope of compulsory IECEE CB Scheme certification. Exporters and importers supplying key components—including air pumps, protein skimmers, and UV disinfection modules—to the Saudi market must now comply with dual certification (valid CB test report + local SASO Certificate of Conformity) starting 1 September 2026. This development directly affects manufacturers, exporters, and distributors engaged in the global aquaculture equipment supply chain.

Event Overview

On 26 May 2026, SASO published the revised standard SASO IEC 60335-2-109:2026. The update explicitly extends mandatory IECEE CB certification to Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), aeration devices, and water treatment equipment. From 1 September 2026, all such equipment imported into Saudi Arabia must be accompanied by both a valid CB test report issued by an IECEE-accredited CBTL and a locally issued SASO Certificate of Conformity (CoC). Covered products include air pumps, protein skimmers, and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection modules.

Industries Affected

Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs & ODMs)

Manufacturers producing RAS systems or component-level aquaculture hardware—such as aerators, protein separators, or UV sterilization units—are now required to obtain CB certification prior to export. This adds a mandatory pre-market conformity assessment step that was not previously enforced for these product categories under SASO’s aquaculture framework.

Exporters and Trading Companies

Trading firms handling cross-border shipments of aquaculture equipment into Saudi Arabia face new documentation and timeline constraints. As of 1 September 2026, customs clearance will require verified CB reports and SASO CoC documentation; non-compliant consignments may be rejected or delayed at port.

Supply Chain Service Providers (Certification Bodies, Local Representatives)

Third-party service providers—including CB Testing Laboratories (CBTLs), SASO-accredited conformity assessment bodies, and local SASO representatives—will experience increased demand for CB testing, technical documentation review, and CoC issuance services. Workloads for local representative offices handling CoC applications are expected to rise ahead of the September deadline.

Key Actions for Stakeholders

Monitor official SASO communications and implementation guidance

While the regulation takes effect on 26 May 2026 and enforcement begins 1 September 2026, SASO may issue supplementary notices—such as acceptable CBTL lists, transitional arrangements, or CoC application procedures. Stakeholders should track updates via the official SASO portal and authorized notification channels.

Identify and prioritize affected product lines

Companies should audit their export portfolios to confirm whether specific models (e.g., submersible air pumps, inline UV modules, or integrated RAS control units) fall under the newly covered scope. Not all water-related equipment is included—only those explicitly referenced in SASO IEC 60335-2-109:2026, such as devices intended for intensive aquaculture use.

Initiate CB testing well ahead of the September 2026 deadline

CB testing cycles—including sample submission, test execution, report drafting, and CBTL sign-off—typically require 6–10 weeks. Given the volume surge anticipated ahead of the deadline, early engagement with accredited CBTLs is advisable to avoid bottlenecks.

Confirm local representation and CoC application readiness

Foreign manufacturers without a legal entity in Saudi Arabia must appoint a local representative to apply for the SASO CoC. Firms should verify that their appointed representative is registered with SASO and capable of submitting CoC applications using the updated system requirements.

Editorial Perspective / Industry Observation

Observably, this regulatory update signals SASO’s broader effort to align technical requirements for specialized agricultural and aquaculture infrastructure with international safety benchmarks—specifically IEC standards via the CB Scheme. Analysis shows the move does not introduce entirely new safety criteria but rather formalizes enforcement of existing IEC-based evaluation for previously unregulated segments within aquaculture equipment. It is better understood as a compliance enforcement milestone than a technical standard overhaul. From an industry standpoint, the shift reflects growing regulatory attention on controlled-environment food production systems in Gulf markets—and underscores the need for exporters to treat certification not as a one-time formality, but as an embedded part of product development and market-entry planning.

Conclusion: This requirement marks a procedural tightening—not a technical pivot—for aquaculture equipment exporters targeting Saudi Arabia. Its significance lies less in novelty and more in enforceability: it converts voluntary or loosely applied conformity expectations into binding, time-bound obligations. Current stakeholders are advised to treat the May 2026 publication as the definitive trigger for action—not merely a notice—and to interpret the 1 September 2026 deadline as a hard operational cutoff, not a flexible transition window.

Source: Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO); SASO IEC 60335-2-109:2026 standard document (published 26 May 2026).
Further clarification on CBTL eligibility, CoC fee structure, and potential transitional provisions remains pending official SASO guidance and is subject to ongoing monitoring.