Overview
Almost every television now sold is a connected device. That single fact changes the certification picture, because a set with a Wi-Fi module is simultaneously an audio-video appliance, an energy-labelled product and a radio transmitter — and Saudi Arabia regulates all three. Exporters who treat a smart TV as an ordinary appliance routinely discover the gap only when a shipment is already at the port.
A Product Certificate of Conformity (PCoC) is required for the model and a Shipment Certificate of Conformity (SCoC) for each consignment. Alongside these, each model must be registered on the Saudi energy-efficiency programme and carry an approved label showing its power consumption class, and any wireless functionality must hold CITC type approval. We line the three up together rather than sequentially, which is what usually saves the schedule.
Product Types
The SABER route, efficiency rules and — where wireless is present — CITC approval apply across display and reception products, including:
- LED and LCD televisions in all screen sizes
- OLED and QLED televisions
- Smart televisions with integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and streaming platforms
- Commercial and hospitality displays and hotel televisions
- Digital signage and large-format display panels
- Portable and in-vehicle televisions
- Set-top boxes, receivers and streaming devices
- Computer monitors sold as display products
The scope of your certificate and efficiency label is defined from the screen size, panel technology, power consumption and wireless capability. We structure the certificate so the models you actually export are covered.
HS Codes
Televisions and display products are commonly classified under the headings below. These are examples only — the correct code depends on whether the unit incorporates a tuner and a display.
- 8528.72 — Reception apparatus for television, colour — the usual heading for televisions
- 8528.71 — Reception apparatus not designed to incorporate a video display — set-top boxes and receivers
- 8528.59 — Other monitors — display panels without a television tuner
- 8528.52 — Monitors capable of directly connecting to an automatic data-processing machine
- 8529.90 — Parts suitable for use with television apparatus
Applicable Saudi Requirements
Televisions are certified through SABER registration on the Saudi platform, together with efficiency registration and, where applicable, radio approval. The main requirements are:
- A valid PCoC issued against the applicable Technical Regulation and standards
- An SCoC for each individual shipment before customs clearance
- Electrical and product safety test evidence to IEC 62368-1
- Electromagnetic compatibility evidence covering both emission and immunity
- Power-consumption testing supporting the declared energy class, including standby and networked-standby power
- A registered and approved SASO energy-efficiency label affixed to each unit
- CITC type approval for any integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or other radio module
- Correct marking of voltage, rated power, screen size, model number and energy class
- A registered Saudi importer on the SABER platform to link the shipment
Technical Regulation
Televisions are assessed under the applicable Saudi Technical Regulation for low-voltage electrical equipment and audio-video apparatus, together with the Saudi energy-efficiency regulation that sets the consumption thresholds and labelling rules for display products. Where the set includes a radio module, CITC regulation applies in parallel and is administered separately from SABER. The exact regulation and standard set is confirmed at assessment from the product type and HS code. Our Technical Regulations guide explains how regulations are matched to products.
Testing / Standards
Televisions are typically evaluated for safety, electromagnetic compatibility and power consumption. Typical verification includes:
- IEC 62368-1 — safety requirements for audio/video, information and communication technology equipment
- CISPR 32 — electromagnetic emission requirements for multimedia equipment
- CISPR 35 — electromagnetic immunity requirements for multimedia equipment
- IEC 62087 — methods of measurement for the power consumption of audio, video and related equipment
- SASO energy-efficiency standard for televisions — on-mode, standby and networked-standby power limits and class determination
- Radio testing for the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules in support of CITC type approval
- Electrical safety — insulation, earthing, temperature rise, stability and mechanical strength including stand and wall-mount
Existing IECEE CB reports, EMC reports and accredited power-consumption reports may be accepted where they cover the correct model and are within validity. We review your reports before arranging any new product testing, so you only test what is genuinely missing.
Documents Required
A typical television application uses the set below; our full documents required guide explains each item.
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- HS code of the product, distinguishing television from monitor or set-top box
- Technical datasheet showing screen size, panel type, rated power, on-mode and standby power consumption
- Safety test report to IEC 62368-1
- EMC test reports covering emission and immunity
- Accredited power-consumption report supporting the declared energy class
- CITC type approval certificate or application reference for wireless models
- Product photographs showing the rating plate, model number and label area
- Manufacturer details and Declaration of Conformity where relevant
- Saudi importer registration details
PCoC Process
The Product Certificate of Conformity certifies the televisions model or range against the applicable standards. In outline:
- Classification and scope
We confirm the product type, HS code, screen sizes, power ratings and wireless capability, and define which models and variants the certificate should cover.
- Report, label and radio review
We check whether your safety, EMC and power-consumption reports can be reused, confirm the declared energy class, prepare the efficiency label, and identify whether CITC approval is required and already in place.
- Technical review
An approved certification body reviews the documents, markings, energy classification and test evidence against the regulations.
- PCoC and efficiency label issued
Once the review is satisfied, the PCoC is issued on the SABER platform and the approved label is confirmed for the model. 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 and payment
The shipment is verified against the valid PCoC and any efficiency registration, 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 the model carries wireless functionality, because CITC type approval runs on its own schedule alongside the SABER work. Our SABER timeline guide covers this in detail.
- Non-wireless models with acceptable safety, EMC and power reports — a PCoC and label can typically be arranged within a few working days
- Smart televisions requiring CITC type approval — this is normally the long pole and should be started first
- When fresh testing is required — power-consumption and EMC laboratory turnaround is the main driver, usually a few weeks depending on scope
- SCoC — normally issued quickly per shipment once a valid PCoC and efficiency registration are in place
Common Problems
- Smart television with Wi-Fi shipped without CITC type approval — the most frequent and most expensive failure in this category
- Standby or networked-standby power exceeding the permitted limit
- Declared energy class not supported by the accredited power-consumption report
- Screen-size variants within a series not covered by the submitted test evidence
- Model number on the rating plate differing from the model number on the certificate
- Monitor or signage panel certified as a television, or the reverse
We check these points up front — especially whether CITC approval is required and already held — so shipments are not held at customs or rejected for avoidable reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a smart TV need CITC approval as well as SABER certification?
Yes. Any television with an integrated Wi-Fi or Bluetooth module is a radio device under Saudi rules and needs type approval from CITC, the Communications, Space and Technology Commission. This is a separate approval from a separate authority and runs in parallel with the SABER PCoC — it is not part of it. It also cannot be arranged retrospectively once a shipment is already in transit, which is why we identify it at the very start of the assessment.
Which safety standard applies to televisions?
Televisions are assessed to IEC 62368-1, the safety standard for audio/video, information and communication technology equipment, which replaced the older IEC 60065 and IEC 60950 standards. Alongside it, electromagnetic compatibility is assessed against CISPR 32 for emission and CISPR 35 for immunity. The exact standard editions applicable are confirmed at assessment.
How is the energy label for a television determined?
Power consumption is measured to IEC 62087, which defines how on-mode, standby and networked-standby power are tested for audio and video equipment. Those measured figures determine the energy class shown on the SASO label. Standby and networked-standby are worth particular attention: a set can pass comfortably in on-mode and still exceed the limit in networked standby because its wireless module never fully sleeps.
Can one PCoC cover a whole television series with different screen sizes?
Often yes, where the models share a platform, panel technology and electrical design, and where the test evidence covers the range appropriately. But different screen sizes have different power consumption and therefore potentially different energy classes, so the efficiency side usually needs data for each size. We structure the certificate so the sizes and variants you actually export are covered.
How much does SABER certification for televisions cost and how long does it take?
It depends mainly on whether the model has wireless functionality and whether valid safety, EMC and power-consumption reports already exist. For a non-wireless set with acceptable reports a PCoC and label can often be arranged within a few working days. For a smart TV, CITC type approval is normally the longest item and sets the overall schedule. 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 televisions 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.
Get Your Televisions Certified
Send us your model list, screen sizes, panel type, rated and standby power consumption, HS code, wireless specification and any existing safety, EMC or power-consumption reports. We will confirm the applicable Technical Regulation, tell you immediately whether CITC type approval is required, review your testing, prepare the SASO energy label, and coordinate the PCoC and each SCoC so your shipments clear Saudi customs without delay.