Dated: 13th September 2019.
Issued by. APEDA (Ministry of Commerce & Industry)
- As you may be aware, Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA) has implemented new procedure for import of rice w.e.f. September 1, 2019. Certificate of Conformity (COC) is required to accompany each-consignment. Presently two agencies viz. Intertek and TUV Austria (India) Pvt. Ltd. have been authorised to issue COC.
- A Trade Delegation visited Saudi Arabia and had meeting with SFDA on August 29, 2019. SFDA have agreed to exempt the requirement of COC on case to case basis till December 31, 2019. All consignments arriving in Saudi Arabia on or after January I, 2020 would be cleared by customs only when accompanied with COC.
- For clearance of consignments upto December 31, 2019 importers would be required to provide an Affidavit undertaking that COC will be accompanying the future consignments.
- SFDA have decided to source rice from India from such rice establishments which have adopted Food Safety Management System (FSMS) based on international standards viz ISO 22000 and / or HACCP. Merchant exporters would be required to provide a certificate from the unit from where the rice has been sourced by them and such unit should be possessing valid accreditation for ISO 22000 and /or HACCP.
- To facilitate exports, APEDA is required to provide a list of rice establishments to SFDA which have valid accreditation for ISO 22000 and / or HACCP. You are therefore, requested to send us copy of valid certificate of accreditation as per ISO 22000 and / or HACCP in respect of your unit so that your name could be included in the list of rice establishments to be provided by APEDA to SFDA.
- The copy of certificate of accreditation may please be sent at the earliest but not later than September 20, 2019 to the undersigned at ssnayyar@apeda.gov.in & vinitas@apeda.gov.in.