Saudi Arabia Notifies WTO of Updated Technical Regulation on Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has submitted an addendum to the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding changes to its Technical Regulation on the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment. The update, notified under document symbol G/TBT/N/SAU/1166/Corr.1/Add.1, aligns the regulation’s provisions with the country’s recently issued Product Safety Law. 

According to the WTO notification, the revised text is intended to strengthen safety, health, and environmental protection by harmonizing technical requirements for electrical and electronic equipment with current Saudi legislation. The update introduces clearer compliance obligations for manufacturers, importers, and distributors, including technical documentation, Arabic-language safety instructions, and mandatory conformity assessment procedures. 

The regulation covers a broad range of products from household appliances and IT equipment to lighting devices, tools, toys, and monitoring instruments while exempting certain categories such as medical devices, military equipment, and large-scale industrial machinery. 

Key provisions set maximum concentration limits for hazardous substances in homogeneous materials, including: lead (0.1%), mercury (0.1%), cadmium (0.01%), hexavalent chromium (0.1%), polybrominated biphenyls (0.1%), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (0.1%), and selected phthalates (0.1%). 

Economic operators are required to maintain records, conduct risk assessments, and cooperate with market surveillance authorities. Non-compliant products may be subject to recalls, withdrawal from the market, or other corrective measures. 

The updated regulation and its associated list of standards are available via the WTO and SASO platforms. Interested stakeholders have 30 days from the date of notification to submit comments.