Government Services &
International Trade (GSIT)
THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
IMPORT GUIDE No 02
Energy Efficiency Labelling
Important Note : this Import Guide is intended to give Bureau Veritas Customers essential information as
reference related to existing legislation implemented in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The following electrical appliances shall have an energy efficiency labelling with a valid license to use such label.
 Single-package (such as window type) and split-system non-ducted air conditioners using air- and water-cooled
condensers and heat pumps employing air-cooled condensers and ducted air-conditioners using air-to-air heat
pumps for residential, commercial and industrial sector with cooling capacity less than and including 70000
Btu/h(20000 W)
 Household Refrigerators up to and including 1100 L (39 cubic foot)
 Freezers up to and including 850L (30 cubic foot)
 Electrical washing machines for clothes, up to and including 12kg.

All EEL applications submitted to SASO shall include the original hard copy of the application stamped and signed by
the manufacturer along with the original hard copy of the test report.

All EEL applications shall be submitted online in parallel with the documents application mentioned above for a period
of two months, after which only online applications will be accepted.

License to use the energy efficiency label is issued with a validity of one year only.

The labelling authorization/approval is managed by SASO.

BV helps exporters to acquire the energy labelling authorization from SASO contact.

All testing laboratories shall be registered on the SL&S (Saudi Label and Standards) portal, through the following link
and free of charge:
http://www.sls.gov.sa/Pages/en/RegisterLab.aspx
Note: As of 01/09/2014 no laboratory will be registered unless its scope of accreditation covers the applicable Saudi standards for performance
and energy efficiency labelling, until this date SASO will register labs with scope of accreditation including SASO EEL standards or international
equivalent standards
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

Applicable SASO performance standards are the following
Product
Standard
Title
Non-ducted air conditioners and heat Pumps -Testing and rating for
SASO 2681: 2013
performance (based on ISO 5151)
Ducted air-conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps - Testing and rating for
AC
SASO 2682: 2013
performance (based on ISO 13253)
Energy Labelling and Minimum Energy Performance Requirements for AirSASO 2663: 2012
Conditioners
Refrigerators
Energy Performance, Capacity and Labelling of Household Refrigerators,
SASO 2664: 2013
and freezers
Refrigerator-Freezers and Freezers (test method based on ISO 15502)
Energy Labelling Requirement of Clothes Washing Machines for Household
SASO 2692: 2013
Use
Washing
Method for Measuring the Performance of Clothes Washing for Household
SASO 2693: 2007
machines
Use
Clothes Washing machines for household use- Methods for measuring the
SASO 2683: 2007
performance (based on IEC 60456)
Sizes, shapes and colours of the label shall comply with the requirements set within the applicable standard for each
appliance.
Example, label for air conditioners:
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 Important Notes:
a)
SASO is currently updating the Energy Performance standards for washing machines and refrigerators/freezers
(to versions SASO 2692: 2013 and SASO 2664: 2013 respectively), the following changes are to be noted:
- New label design in both standards
- The Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) value for washing machines shall be equal or greater
than an EER value of 4.0
The time frame for applying the revised standards for washing machines, household freezers and refrigerators:
- October 1st 2014, Inspection companies shall stop issuing conformity certificates to products not complying
with the revised standards (Newly revised standards to be published soon), this part will be strictly monitored
by the customs
- January 1st 2015, products not complying with the revised standards and not carrying the appropriate labels
will be banned from entry to KSA.
- March 1st 2015, MoCI market surveillance will start to withdraw all non-complying products
- Even though the updated standards are not published yet, the new labels design implementation has started
already, SASO is currently issuing labels with the new design
b)
Reminder:
- Refrigerating products (refrigerator, air-conditioner, compressors and freezers) which are operating on
refrigerating gasses (Freon 22 – Freon 123) will be banned as of 01/01/2015, except for spare parts and
window air conditioners (their parts and compressors working on Freon 22 only).
- Phase 2 of the EER rating for Air Conditioners as per SASO 2663: 2012 as of 21/01/2015:
The lower limits of power consumption efficiency for air conditioners shall be higher or equal to the value of the
energy efficiency ratio (EER), when calculating cooling capacity at testing conditions (T1) and testing conditions
(T3) as follows:
Type of Air Conditioner
Window Type
Split and other types
Limits
of
Cooling
Capacity (CC) (Btu/h) at
testing conditions (T1)
EER Value in (Btu/h)/Watt
Mandatory
application
07/09/2013
(effective
07/07/2013)
as
as
of
of
EER value in (Btu/h)/Watt
Mandatory application
21/01/2015
as
T1
T3
T1
T3
CC < 18000
8.5
6.12
9.8
7.06
24000 > CC ≥ 18000
8.5
6.12
9.7
6.98
CC ≥ 24000
8.5
6.12
8.5
6.12
All capacities
9.5
6.84
11.5
8.28
of
The information contained herein is for the purpose of facilitating Pre-Shipment Inspection and does not relieve Exporters or Importers from their
obligations in respect of compliance with the import regulations of the country of importation. Although every effort has been made to ensure the
correctness of the information, as at the date of issuance of this data sheet, Bureau Veritas does not accept any responsibility for errors or
omissions and, furthermore, the information may subsequently be subject to change as may be announced by the Authorities in the country of
importation. Consequently, Exporters are advised to check with Bureau Veritas, prior to shipment of the goods, if there is any doubt concerning
the issuance of a Certificate of Conformity.
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