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The major export certificates required by Saudi Arabia’s regulatory and import control agencies are included in this Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) - Certificates Report.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has published several new announcements, regulations, and standards at an extremely rapid pace.

Saudi Arabia is a 20th largest importer of U.S. food and agricultural products in the world, with direct U.S. exports of $1.23 billion in 2020. Return to semi-normal living conditions are invigorating U.S. agricultural exports to the Kingdom as supported by the U.S. Customs data for January – August 2021 that show 16 percent increase compared to the same period in 2020.

As a result of millions of religious pilgrims, foreign workers, and a developing tourism industry Saudi Arabia has a large and resilient HRI sector.

New measures by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority will have serious repercussions on the Saudi import poultry market.

Post anticipates a significant increase in U.S. high-value food product exports to Saudi Arabia in 2021 due to expansion of the retail sector.

On April 15, 2021, the Saudi government fully implemented its November 2020 decree to privatize the barley import sector.

On February 2, 2021, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) increased the shelf life for U.S. chilled beef from 70 to 120 days.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) continues to stringently implement and approve food regulations and standards on imported food and agricultural products.

The major export certificates required by Saudi Arabia’s regulatory and import control agencies are included in this Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a regional political and economic treaty organization comprised of the Arabian Gulf nations of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Saudi Arabia is home to an over-sized and resilient hotel, restaurant and institutional (HRI) industry that is a promising market for U.S. exporters.