Overview
Protective gloves are certified as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which is what sets them apart from ordinary work gloves. The certificate has to show the glove protects the wearer against a defined hazard — mechanical wear, cuts, chemicals or heat — and that the performance pictogram and levels marked on the glove are backed by the right test report. Because the standard and pictogram depend on the hazard, matching the glove to the correct standard is central to the certificate.
Protective gloves fall under the SABER conformity scheme. A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is required for the glove range, and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) is required for each consignment before it can clear Saudi customs. For protective gloves, the certificate relies heavily on the EN 388 / EN 374 / EN 407 test report, the declared performance levels and the PPE markings.
Product Types
The SABER route and PPE requirements apply across protective and safety gloves, including:
- General-purpose mechanical gloves (EN 388)
- Cut-resistant gloves (EN 388 / ISO 13997)
- Chemical and micro-organism protective gloves (EN 374)
- Heat and fire resistant gloves (EN 407)
- Cold-protection gloves (EN 511)
- Leather rigger and welding gloves
- Nitrile, latex and PU coated gloves
- Disposable examination / industrial gloves
The scope of your certificate is defined from the glove type, the hazard it protects against, the material and the declared performance levels. We structure the certificate so the gloves you actually export are covered.
HS Codes
Protective gloves are commonly classified under the headings below. These are examples only — the correct code depends on the glove material and construction.
- 6116 — Gloves, knitted or crocheted (incl. coated)
- 6216 — Gloves, of textile (not knitted)
- 4015 — Gloves of vulcanised rubber (nitrile, latex, disposable)
- 3926.20 — Gloves of plastics
- 4203.29 — Gloves of leather (rigger, welding)
Applicable Saudi Requirements
Protective gloves are certified through SABER registration on the Saudi platform under the PPE regime. The main requirements are:
- A valid PCoC issued against the Saudi PPE Technical Regulation for hand protection
- An SCoC for each individual shipment before customs clearance
- EN ISO 21420 general requirements (sizing, dexterity, innocuousness)
- The hazard-specific report — EN 388 (mechanical), EN 374 (chemical) or EN 407 (heat)
- Declared performance levels matching the marked pictogram
- Correct PPE marking — pictogram, performance levels, size, standard and maker
- User information / instructions with the required Arabic content
- A registered Saudi importer on the SABER platform to link the shipment
Technical Regulation
Protective gloves are assessed under the Saudi Technical Regulation for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The regulation is built around the general glove requirements, the hazard-specific performance, the pictogram and levels marked on the glove and the user information supplied. The exact requirements are confirmed at assessment from the glove type, hazard and HS code. Our Technical Regulations guide explains how regulations are matched to products.
Testing / Standards
Protective gloves are typically evaluated against the general requirement plus the standard for the hazard. Typical verification includes:
- EN ISO 21420 — general requirements (sizing, dexterity, pH, chromium VI)
- EN 388 — mechanical risks (abrasion, cut, tear, puncture; impact)
- ISO 13997 (TDM) cut resistance where declared
- EN 374 — chemical permeation, penetration and micro-organism
- EN 407 — thermal / heat and flame resistance
- EN 511 — cold (convective and contact) where applicable
Existing accredited EN 388 / EN 374 / EN 407 test reports may be accepted where they cover the correct glove and declared levels. We review your reports before arranging any new product testing, so you only test what is genuinely missing.
Documents Required
A typical protective-glove application uses the set below; our full documents required guide explains each item.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- HS code of the gloves
- Technical datasheet showing type, material, hazard and performance levels
- EN ISO 21420 + EN 388 / EN 374 / EN 407 test reports
- Photographs of the product and the marked pictogram / levels
- User information / instruction leaflet (with Arabic content)
- Declaration of Conformity and manufacturer details
- Saudi importer registration details
PCoC Process
The Product Certificate of Conformity certifies the glove range against the PPE regulation and declared performance. In outline:
-
Classification and scope
We confirm the glove type, the hazard, material, HS code and applicable standards, and define what the certificate should cover.
-
Report and marking review
We check whether your EN 388 / EN 374 / EN 407 reports can be reused and confirm the pictogram and declared levels match the report.
-
Technical review
An approved certification body reviews the documents, markings and test evidence against the regulation.
-
PCoC issued
Once the review is satisfied, the PCoC is issued on the SABER platform. It is typically valid for one year.
SCoC Process
A Shipment Certificate of Conformity is issued per consignment and is what customs checks at the border. In outline:
-
Shipment details submitted
The invoice, packing list and the linked PCoC are submitted for the specific consignment.
-
Verification
The shipment is verified against the valid PCoC, the declared levels and markings are confirmed, and the SCoC fee is settled on the platform.
-
SCoC issued
The SCoC is issued for that shipment, allowing it to clear Saudi customs. Each new shipment needs its own SCoC.
Certification Timeline
The main variable is whether valid EN 388 / EN 374 / EN 407 reports already exist and whether they cover the declared levels. Our SABER timeline guide covers this in detail.
- With acceptable existing test reports — a PCoC can typically be arranged within a few working days
- When fresh testing is required — abrasion, cut, permeation and heat testing turnaround is the main driver, usually a few weeks depending on scope
- SCoC — normally issued quickly per shipment once a valid PCoC is in place
Common Problems
- Marked EN 388 performance levels not supported by the test report
- Chemical glove marked to EN 374 without the required permeation data
- Wrong standard used for the hazard (e.g. EN 388 only on a heat glove)
- General requirements (EN ISO 21420 sizing / chromium VI) not covered
- User information leaflet missing the required Arabic content
- HS code declared on the invoice not matching the glove material shipped
We check these points up front — especially the declared levels, the pictogram and the matching test report — so shipments are not held at customs or rejected for avoidable reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are protective gloves certified as PPE under SABER?
Yes — protective gloves are Personal Protective Equipment, so they are certified under the Saudi PPE Technical Regulation. The certificate depends on the glove meeting the general requirements of EN ISO 21420 plus the hazard-specific standard, and carrying the matching pictogram and performance levels. We confirm the applicable standards for your exact glove at assessment.
Which standard applies to my gloves?
It depends on the hazard. Mechanical gloves are assessed against EN 388, chemical and micro-organism gloves against EN 374, heat and flame gloves against EN 407 and cold gloves against EN 511 — all alongside the general requirements of EN ISO 21420. Using the wrong standard for the hazard, such as marking only EN 388 on a heat-resistant glove, is a common reason a certificate is queried. We confirm the correct standard before testing.
What do the numbers under the EN 388 shield mean?
The digits and letters under the EN 388 pictogram are the performance levels for abrasion, cut (coup test), tear, puncture and — where applicable — TDM cut and impact. Those marked levels must match the test report exactly; a glove printed with higher levels than its report supports is one of the most common reasons a hand-protection certificate is queried. We check the marked levels against the report before submission.
How much does SABER certification for gloves cost and how long does it take?
It depends mainly on whether valid EN 388 / EN 374 / EN 407 reports for the declared levels are already in place. With acceptable evidence a PCoC can often be arranged within a few working days; if fresh testing is required the laboratory turnaround is the main variable. Send your product details and reports for a specific quote and timeline at no cost. See our SABER certificate cost guide.
How long is the PCoC valid, and do I need a new SCoC for every shipment?
A Product Certificate of Conformity is typically valid for one year, so one PCoC can cover multiple shipments of the same gloves during that period. A Shipment Certificate of Conformity is issued per consignment — every individual shipment needs its own SCoC before it can clear Saudi customs.
Which products and HS codes does this cover?
The same SABER route applies across mechanical, cut-resistant, chemical, heat and cold gloves in knitted, coated, rubber and leather constructions — generally classified under HS headings 6116, 4015 and 4203. We confirm the correct classification and applicable requirements for your exact glove during assessment.
Get Your Protective Gloves Certified
Send us your glove type, the hazard it protects against, material, declared performance levels, HS code and any existing EN 388 / EN 374 / EN 407 test reports. We will confirm the applicable PPE Technical Regulation, testing and marking requirements, review your testing, and coordinate the PCoC and each SCoC so your shipments clear Saudi customs without delay.