Saudi Arabia has added fresh fruits and vegetables to the catalogue of goods subject to import license administration, according to the website of the Ministry of Commerce of The People's Republic of China on May 5, 2022.  The main provisions include :

(1) Listing fresh fruits and vegetables in the catalogue of goods subject to import license administration, and clarifying the required documents and specific requirements. The new regulations emphasize that both local and foreign investors who want to import fresh fruits and vegetables in Saudi Arabia need to obtain an import license issued by the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. 

(2) The purpose of the new regulations is to maintain the safety of life and health of Saudi people and plants in accordance with the international standards of the Committee on Phytosanitary Measures. By monitoring market development and trade statistics, combined with the overall trend of import changes, Saudi Arabia decided it was necessary to control the import of fresh fruits and vegetables. 

(3) The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia has developed control measures that will protect Saudi plant resources, support sustainable local production, control quality, ensure smooth circulation and enhance food security.  

(4) According to the new regulations, importers are required to submit copies of business registration certificates or foreign investment licenses, and indicate the name and quantity of imported goods, import date and origin.  import licence will be issued electronically within 3 days of submission of application. 

(5) According to the Foreign Investment Law of Saudi Arabia, the importer must be a Saudi legal person or foreign investor authorized to engage in the activity.  The fresh fruit and vegetable import license is divided into A and B categories.  Category A license is fixed for 10 years (renewable), and it requires proof of ownership of refrigerated warehouses (freezers) used for fresh-keeping and storage of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as contracts with business centers (sales outlets, distributors) and transporters (distribution points);  The Class B license is for 3 years (renewable) and requires additional proof of ownership of the refrigerated warehouse (freezer). 

(6) The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration of Saudi Arabia shall have the right to take samples of the goods at ports of entry and have them tested at accredited laboratories inside and outside Saudi Arabia.  It is required that the goods can not be detected with agricultural quarantine pests in the catalogue of pests within 60 days from the permit issued date .  The relevant goods shall be entered through the port of entry specified in the import licence;  The import license shall be cancelled in case of infectious disease in the exporting country before shipment.