Saudi Arabia makes conformity certificates a hard gate on poultry imports as Gulf rules tighten

Conformity certificates are now a hard gate on poultry entering Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's food regulator has made a certificate of conformity (CoC) a mandatory import document for poultry and poultry products shipped from Brazil. Under the requirement, which took effect on 1 April 2026, shipments from Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) approved establishments must be accompanied by a valid CoC. The measure forms part of the SFDA's food conformity assessment framework and was set out in SGS's Product Conformity Assessment newsletter for the third quarter of 2026, published on 9 September 2026.

• Plant approval is no longer enough. SGS notes that the CoC requirement is separate from establishment approval. A processing facility can be SFDA-approved and the consignment still fail to clear without its own valid certificate.
• What the assessment covers. Whether the product falls within the mandatory scope; whether the establishment is SFDA-approved; whether product and shipment documentation is complete, accurate and consistent; and whether applicable food safety, sanitary, technical, labelling, Halal, slaughter and import requirements have been addressed.
• The market is worth protecting. Saudi Arabia imported approximately 397,200 tonnes of Brazilian chicken meat in 2025, an increase of 7.1% on 2024, making the Kingdom Brazil's third-largest chicken meat export market.
• Timing is part of compliance. SGS advises exporters to start the conformity assessment early enough to support the planned shipment schedule, and to obtain the CoC through an SFDA-designated conformity assessment body. Certificates ordered after the container is booked are how cargo ends up sitting at the port of entry.

The requirement applies specifically to poultry exported from Brazil, but it shows clearly how the Gulf's food-conformity architecture is developing: establishment approval, a Halal certificate, correct labelling and a separate conformity certificate now sit alongside the veterinary health certificate as distinct conditions of entry. For importers, the practical consequence is that supplier documents need to be audited before freight is booked, not after the container arrives.

Nau International Food Group supplies halal frozen chicken breast and chicken leg quarters from GACC-registered plants in China, with halal certification (DGDR0930), HACCP certification (115HACCP2500478), a certificate of origin and a veterinary health certificate issued with every consignment. We handle documentation, customs clearance and DDP delivery into Dubai for Gulf, African and Central Asian buyers. To discuss the documentation your market requires, write to info@naufoodgroup.com.

Source: SGS, “Saudi Arabia Introduces Mandatory Certificate of Conformity Requirements for Brazilian Poultry Exports”, Product Conformity Assessment Newsletter Q3/2026, 9 September 2026 (SFDA requirement effective 1 April 2026; 2025 import volume 397,200 tonnes, +7.1%).