Rules and requirements to be followed when importing meat and its products into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

These regulations for importing meat into Saudi Arabia encompass the following general requirements (i) prohibition of importing sheep, goats, cows, calves, poultry, and related products or equipment from countries with epidemic diseases listed in Saudi Arabia's Veterinary Quarantine Law or from unapproved slaughterhouses; (ii) mandating that all meat shipments of these animals, along with their products and preparations, must comply with approved Gulf Standards; (iii) requiring imported meat and poultry to be accompanied by a Halal certificate specifying the slaughter date, animal type, age, and undergo veterinary inspection within 12 hours before and after slaughter to ensure the meat's safety and suitability for human consumption; (iv) ensuring that the slaughterhouse meets health standards outlined in Gulf Standards and has not been previously used for pig slaughtering; (v) demanding a health certificate, endorsed by the competent authority, which indicates the meat type and confirms that animals were not fed with regulated animal protein substances, fats, or animal waste, and were not treated with growth-stimulating substances; (vi) emphasizing that carcasses and meat shipments should be free from internal organs, fat, and certain parts, with the head and limbs removed while preserving part of the tail for identification; (vii) maintaining the quality and safety of all meat types, free from rancidity, rot, or harmful substances; (viii) setting a limit of four months from slaughter to arrival in Saudi Arabia for frozen meat, with consistent storage at a temperature not exceeding -18°C; (ix) ensuring that packaging materials do not leave harmful residues or contaminants on the meat; (x) requiring that frozen meat in small portions be packed in waxed cardboard or polyethylene with comprehensive labeling; (xi) ensuring that the slaughterhouse implements the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system at all production stages.
Specific rules pertain to the following (i) the proper placement of seals on chilled and frozen carcasses and their parts. This includes affixing a label securely to one end of the carcass to provide additional data, ensuring it is not easily removable; (ii) regulations related to transportation methods, covering documents, seals, containers, and other aspects; (iii) guidelines for importing animal viscera (sheep, goats, cows, camels, buffaloes) regarding the countries of origin, health regulations, shipping procedures, and the necessity of health certificates confirming the health and veterinary inspection of the viscera from healthy animals; (iv) the prohibition of importing food derived from genetically manipulated animal products.