The regulation in simple terms
This regulation helps make textile products sold in Saudi Arabia safer and makes their labels more useful to buyers. It covers more than clothing: fabrics, yarns, carpets, curtains and certain textile parts of other products can also fall within its scope.
For a customer, a label should give reliable information about what a product is made from and how to care for it. For a manufacturer or importer, the job includes supporting those statements with records and showing that the product meets the relevant safety requirements. SASO is the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization.
What does this mean for you?
- A garment looking good is not enough. Its materials, dyes, finishes and accessories may affect which safety checks are needed.
- The information on the label must match the actual product. Fibre composition means the types of fibres used—such as cotton or polyester—and their proportions.
- The intended user matters. The regulation specifies a different certification route for underwear and textile products for children under 36 months.
An everyday example
You want to sell a range of children’s clothes. Begin with the age group, fabric composition and labels for each style. If fabrics, dyes or finishes differ, ask whether the available test evidence covers those differences rather than assuming one report covers the whole collection.
Which products are covered?
The regulation includes products containing at least 80% textile fibres by weight. It also has specific rules for textile components in certain products, so the percentage alone is not a complete test of whether an item is covered.
| Product category | Examples | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | Garments and underwear | Identify who will wear the item, their age group and the fabric composition. |
| Fabrics and yarn | Fabric rolls and textile yarns | Record the fibre types, percentages and intended use. |
| Carpets | Textile carpets and rugs | Identify the textile materials and the construction of the product. |
| Curtains and furnishings | Curtains, textile covers and furnishings | Identify which parts are textile and how the item will be used. |
Product examples are not a complete classification. Read the official text and confirm the applicable scope before making an application.
Check the boundaries
Products intended for medical use or carrying medical claims are excluded, as are shoes covered by the footwear regulation. Products with several materials or separate textile parts need a closer scope check; being below 80% textile overall does not automatically settle the question.
GoCertify
How to get started
Use these practical steps to begin. The exact documents and tests depend on your product.
Make a product list. For each style, record the intended user, age group, fibre percentages and any special claim, such as a flame-resistance claim.
Gather the labels and reports. Send readable label artwork, packaging photographs and available laboratory reports. A test report shows what was tested and the results; it needs to be relevant to the material and product you will sell.
Arrange a review before ordering more tests or printing labels. Check the product category, Arabic label information and suitable certification route. Organise the documents by style and material so differences are easy to see.
Does a “100% cotton” label prove that the product complies?
No. It describes the fibre content, but does not by itself show that the product meets all applicable safety, labelling and certification requirements. Supporting records and relevant test evidence still need to be reviewed.
Technical details and references
For a closer review, these notes point to the relevant provisions in the edition linked below.
Scope and exclusions
Article 2 sets the 80% fibre threshold and additional provisions for textile components, including specified coverings and textiles incorporated into other products. Check those provisions and Annex 1 alongside the intended use. Medical-purpose or medically claimed products and footwear under the footwear regulation are excluded.
Article 2, pages 5–6.
Label information and safety evidence
Article 4 addresses fibre names and percentages, readable Arabic information, origin, sizing or dimensions as appropriate, and care information. Article 5 addresses safety issues such as chemicals, colour fastness and relevant accessories. The exact label and test requirements depend on the product and referenced standards.
Articles 4–5, pages 6–10.
Two conformity-assessment routes
Conformity assessment is the process used to check compliance. Article 6 specifies Type 3 under ISO/IEC 17067 for underwear and textile products for children under 36 months, and Type 1a for other covered products. These are different certification models, not quality grades. Confirm the correct route with a SASO-accepted conformity assessment body.
Article 6.1–6.3; Annexes 7–8.
Keep a product technical file
A technical file is the organised set of documents supporting compliance. Article 6.4 calls for the supplier declaration of conformity and laboratory reports about safety from hazardous chemicals. Keep those records linked to the relevant products and their materials.
Article 6.4; Annex 9 for the declaration form.
Edition and dates
- Document edition
- Second edition
- Regulation published
- Mandatory application
- GoCertify summary reviewed
SASO identifies 12 January 2024 as second-edition publication and 12 July 2024 as mandatory application. These are official dates, separate from our review date.
Official documents & sources
Technical Regulation for Textile Products
Official documents are issued by SASO. The explanations on this website are independent GoCertify guidance, not official translations or approvals.
Download PDF · Arabic (0.9 MB)Download an unmodified copy of the official SASO regulation, hosted by GoCertify. The edition and dates shown above identify this copy.
Reading references: Article 2, pages 5–6, sets scope and exclusions. Articles 4–5, pages 6–10, address labels and safety. Article 6, page 10, sets certification routes and technical-file requirements. The cover identifies the second edition; the SASO catalogue gives the mandatory application date.
- View official source at SASO (opens in a new tab)
- SASO regulation catalogue (opens in a new tab)
- SABER regulations directory (opens in a new tab)
Product examples are not a complete classification. Read the official text and confirm the applicable scope before making an application.
The review date records when we checked these sources. It is not a promise that the regulator has made no subsequent changes. Official documents and later notices take precedence.