The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) has granted an extension to companies and factories operating in the cement products sector to bring their operations into compliance with the mandatory implementation of the technical regulations for building materials, set to begin in September of next year.

Officials from the Authority said during a workshop held the day before yesterday at the Eastern Province Chamber, dedicated to introducing the technical regulations for building materials, that they are in the process of launching 40 technical and regulatory codes by 2020, including a product safety system that will provide appropriate details regarding penalties for commercial fraud.

Engineer Mohammed Harira, an expert in quality and conformity, explained that the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) currently has 18 technical regulatory standards, and by 2020 it will have approximately 40 regulations, with technical regulations increasing as needed and in line with market requirements. He emphasized that these regulations are consistent with World Trade Organization requirements regarding fairness and non-discrimination among products regardless of their origin, meaning that all requirements applied to domestic products are the same as those applied to imported products. Furthermore, none of these regulations impose any restrictions or barriers on trade, except in cases that violate public health, consumer safety, or environmental safety.