Is a SABER Certificate Required for Paper Products?
Many are. Tissue and hygiene papers — facial tissue, toilet rolls, kitchen towels, napkins — along with food-contact paper and various paper and cardboard products are treated as regulated products on the SABER platform. A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is required before each shipment can obtain a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) and clear Saudi customs.
Tissue and hygiene products are the most closely regulated category, assessed against SASO quality standards covering basis weight (GSM), absorbency, brightness and hygiene. Food-contact paper adds migration and material-safety checks. Plain printing and packaging board is generally lower risk, but the requirement still depends on the product and its HS code.
Applicable Technical Regulations
Paper conformity runs through SABER registration on the Saudi platform. The exact regulation and standards are confirmed at assessment from the paper type, use and HS code.
- SASO quality standards for tissue and hygiene paper — basis weight (GSM), absorbency, brightness and dimensions
- Hygiene and safety requirements for products such as facial tissue, toilet paper, kitchen towels and napkins
- Food-contact material requirements for paper intended to contact food — migration limits
- Restrictions on harmful substances, optical brighteners and inks where the standard requires it
- Applicable SASO standards for the specific paper or board grade
Testing Requirements
- Basis weight (GSM), ply and dimensional testing for tissue products
- Absorbency and water-absorption capacity testing
- Brightness and appearance testing
- Migration and material-safety testing for food-contact paper
- Harmful-substance and optical-brightener checks where required
Existing test reports from an accredited laboratory may be accepted if they cover the correct grade and specification and are within validity. We assess existing reports before arranging new product testing, so you only test what is genuinely missing.
SABER Certificate Requirements for Paper Products
A typical paper-product application uses the set below; our full documents required guide explains each item in more detail.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Product photographs showing the product and packaging
- Technical datasheet stating grade, GSM, ply and intended use
- HS code
- Quality test reports (GSM, absorbency, brightness) for tissue products
- Migration reports for food-contact paper
- Manufacturer details and Declaration of Conformity where relevant
- Saudi importer registration details
How We Help
- Confirm classification and applicable standard
We identify the paper type, HS code and whether tissue-quality, hygiene or food-contact requirements apply.
- Review specification and existing reports
We check the declared grade and specification against any existing test reports and identify the gaps.
- Coordinate testing on the produced grade
We arrange testing on the actual grade and specification being exported, so the report matches the shipment.
- Obtain the PCoC and process each SCoC
We coordinate the product certificate and process the shipment certificate for each consignment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does plain printing or copier paper need a SABER certificate?
Plain printing and packaging board is generally lower risk than tissue or food-contact paper, but a certificate may still be required depending on the grade and HS code. We confirm from your product whether it is regulated.
Why is tissue paper more closely regulated?
Because tissue and hygiene products are used directly by consumers, SASO applies quality and hygiene standards covering basis weight, absorbency and brightness. These properties are verified by testing before certification.
Is food-contact paper assessed differently?
Yes. Paper that contacts food — such as baking paper or food wrapping — must additionally meet migration and material-safety requirements. We identify the food-contact requirements alongside the general paper standard.
How much does paper certification cost and how long does it take?
It depends on the grade and whether valid quality or migration reports already exist. When acceptable reports are available a paper-product PCoC can typically be arranged within a few working days. See our SABER certificate cost guide, or send your product details for a specific quote at no cost.
Which paper types and HS codes does this cover?
This covers paper and paperboard (HS heading 4802), tissue stock (HS heading 4803), household and sanitary paper such as toilet paper, tissues and napkins (HS heading 4818) and cartons and boxes of paper (HS heading 4819). The precise HS code and use affect the applicable requirements, so we confirm the correct classification for your product during assessment.