International Seed Links

Saudi Arabia

8/2007 Saudi Arabia's Planting Seeds Import Requirement

Vegetable Seeds Import Requirement

The packs may be made of papers or nylon imprinted with the species, class, quality, exporting company, importing merchant, purity ration, germination ratio and date of inspection or otherwise labeled with the same on the back or placed inside an easy to read through nylon bag. Another choice is that many packs can be placed in a cardboard box and labeled with the number of the cases contained and then labeled with details imprinted on the bag. The product shall be free of weed seeds.

Local importer must obtain a written permit prior to seed import from the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Quarantine Department.  
 
Following are required certificates and documents for imported planting seeds:

1. Certified certificate of origin        

2. Agricultural hygiene certification (containing the same quantity, species and classes) stating that the seeds are free of pests and fungal diseases.

3. Bill of lading or airway bill plus a copy of the commercial invoice.

4. For cucurbitaceae seeds, a certificate that the seeds are virus resistant strains.

5. For bean seeds, a certificate that proves they are free of halook seeds.

6. Disinfectant treatment certificate from the country of origin shall be attached.

7. Import of biotech, improved seeds, shoots or of biotech parents seed is prohibited.  An authenticated official certificate providing that the seed is free from biotech contamination must be from the country of origin must be attached.

8. Seeds approved for imports should not arrive at one of Saudi ports before the elapse of 10 days from the date the import permit is

9. This import permit is valid for six months from the date of approval.

Onion Import Requirements:

1. Certificate of origin, duly authenticated by the authorities concerned.

2. Agricultural hygiene certificate of the same number and items certifies that the seeds are free from pests and fungal diseases.

3. Bill of lading or airway bill plus the commercial invoice copy.

4. Disinfectant treatment certificate from the country of origin shall be attached.

5. Seeds approved for imports should not arrive at one of Saudi ports before the elapse of 10 days from the date the import permit is granted.

6. Import of biotech, improved seeds, shoots or of biotech parents seed is prohibited.  An authenticated official certificate providing that the seed is free from biotech contamination must be from the country of origin must be attached.

7. This import permit is valid for six months from the date of approval.

Seedling (nursery plants) imports Requirements:

1. Certificate of origin, duly authenticated by the authorities concerned.

2. Bill of lading or airway bill plus commercial invoice copy.

3. Agricultural hygiene certificate of the same number and items certify that the shoots are free from pests and fungal diseases.

4. Soil entry with the shoots is prohibited. Shoots shall be pre-planted into internationally recognized material (petmos), in the agricultural perlite or vermiculite.

5. Shoots shall be labeled with species and class labels.

6. Shoots approved for imports should not arrive at one of Saudi ports before the elapse of 10 days from the date the import permit is granted.

7. Import of biotech, improved seeds, shoots or of biotech parents seed is prohibited.  An authenticated official certificate providing that the seed is free from biotech contamination must be from the country of origin must be attached..

8. This import permit is valid for six months from the date of approval.

Potato Buds (tubers) import Requirements:

1. Agricultural hygiene certification (containing the same quantity, species and classes) stating that the seeds are free of viral, bacterial, fungal, insect diseases and 100% free of pseudomonas solanacearum.

2. Bill of lading or airway bill plus a copy of the commercial invoice.

3. Potatoes buds shall be of the type recommended by Ministry of Agriculture. They shall be free of radiation.

4. The buds imported for vegetation or production shall be basic seeds-class E, their size shall not be less than 28 ml and not more than 55 mm.

5. The buds shall be received in new labeled 50 kg burlap sacks. Their class shall be imprinted on the sack labels. The experimental buds may be packed in wood boxes of 20-30 kg capacity labeled with the above mentioned information.

6. Buds approved for imports should not arrive at one of Saudi ports before the elapse of 10 days from the date the import permit is granted.

7. Import of biotech, improved seeds, shoots or of biotech parents seed is prohibited.  An authenticated official certificate providing that the seed is free from biotech contamination must be from the country of origin must be attached.

8. This import permit is valid for six months from the date of approval.

Grain and Forage Seeds Import Requirements

1. Certified certificate of origin.

2. Bill of lading or Airway bill and the commercial invoice copy.

3. For alfalfa seeds, certificate: of free of weed seeds, certified seeds, investigation certificate from a specialized company, duly authenticated by the Saudi Embassy, stating that the seeds are in accordance with the required conditions and specifications.

4. Seeds shall not arrive at any port in the Kingdom prior to the elapse of 10 days after the date of approval of the import permit.

4. Disinfectant treatment certificate from the country of origin shall be attached.

5. Each package shall be labeled with the purity ratio, germination ratio and date of inspection in Arabic language.

6. Vegetable, cereals and alfalfa seeds from Eastern Europe, Canada and Turkey shall be attached with the Orange International Seed Lot Certificate by ISTA, whereas seeds from Northern America shall be attached with Federal Lab Certificate. The Lot No. mentioned in the certificate should match that on the packs.

7. Seeds approved for imports should not arrive at one of Saudi ports before the elapse of 10 days from the date the import permit is granted.  

8. Import of biotech, improved seeds, shoots or of biotech parents seed is prohibited.  An authenticated official certificate providing that the seed is free from biotech contamination must be from the country of origin must be attached.

9. This import permit is valid for six months from the date of approval.