Exporting Fresh Celery and Carrots from China to Saudi Arabia and the UAE
Saudi SFDA and UAE MOCCAE requirements for fresh celery and carrots from China: clearance documents, Arabic labels and Gulf residue standards.
Sourcing team (team byline)
Marketing Director
This page covers Saudi Arabia (SFDA) and the United Arab Emirates (MOCCAE), plus the Gulf standards (GSO) they refer to. Requirements in other GCC states are not covered here.
Saudi Arabia: what does SFDA require to clear fresh vegetables?
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) publishes clearance conditions for fresh fruit and vegetables.
Registration of importer and product
The importer and the product must be registered in SFDA systems. This is an obligation on the importer’s side; agree with your importer who prepares which data.
Clearance documents
- Phytosanitary certificate
- Customs declaration
- Invoice
- Packing list
- Certificate of origin
Gulf standards that apply
SFDA’s clearance conditions refer to compliance with GSO 123, GSO 124, GSO 323 and GSO 9. Gulf pesticide residue limits are set in SFDA.FD/GSO 382:2021, and GSO 9:2022 is the Gulf labelling standard for prepackaged foods.
Do labels have to be in Arabic?
For Saudi Arabia, yes. SFDA states that under SFDA.FD/GSO 9 food labels must be written in Arabic; another language may be added if its content matches the Arabic. For the UAE, confirm current labelling rules with your importer.
UAE: which documents does MOCCAE ask for?
The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) releases imported agricultural consignments against:
- A phytosanitary certificate
- The manifest or bill of lading
- A certificate of origin, if the origin is not stated on the phytosanitary certificate
- An invoice or list
Residue analysis certificates are required for certain listed countries, which do not include China.
How are pesticide residues controlled?
Gulf pesticide residue limits are set in SFDA.FD/GSO 382:2021. The limit values are in the standard itself and are not copied here; check them with your importer or the standard.
What can AzureRoute Produce provide?
AzureRoute Produce exports fresh celery and fresh carrots from Shandong, China. We prepare shipping documents to the requirements of the buyer’s market; the exact document list is confirmed with each buyer after the enquiry. See our export compliance page for how documents are agreed per order, and our sourcing partners for where we source.
Key takeaways
- Saudi Arabia: the importer and product are registered with SFDA, and the shipment travels with a phytosanitary certificate, customs declaration, invoice, packing list and certificate of origin.
- Saudi food labels must be in Arabic; another language may be added alongside.
- UAE: MOCCAE releases consignments against a phytosanitary certificate, manifest or bill of lading and invoice.
- Residue limits are set in SFDA.FD/GSO 382:2021.
Frequently asked questions
What documents are needed to clear fresh vegetables in Saudi Arabia?
SFDA's clearance conditions for fresh fruit and vegetables require the importer and product to be registered in SFDA systems, plus a phytosanitary certificate, customs declaration, invoice, packing list and certificate of origin. Products must also comply with Gulf standards GSO 123, GSO 124, GSO 323 and GSO 9.
Can a food label in Saudi Arabia be in English only?
No. SFDA states that under SFDA.FD/GSO 9 food labels must be written in Arabic. Another language may be added alongside, provided its information matches the Arabic text.
What documents does the UAE's MOCCAE require to release a vegetable shipment?
MOCCAE's release service lists a phytosanitary certificate, the manifest or bill of lading, a certificate of origin if the phytosanitary certificate does not state the origin, and an invoice or list. Residue analysis certificates are required for certain listed countries, which do not include China.
Official sources / For reference only
The links below are provided for reference only. Listing a source or portal here does not mean that any product or company is registered, approved or admissible in this market. Buyers must check the current requirements with the competent authorities themselves.
- Clearance conditions for fresh fruit and vegetables — Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), accessed
- Is it allowed to write the food product label in English only? — Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), accessed
- SFDA.FD/GSO 382:2021 (standard record) — GCC Standardization Organization (GSO), accessed
- GSO 9:2022 (standard record) — GCC Standardization Organization (GSO), accessed
- Release of agricultural products consignment — UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), accessed
Official portals
- Fasah (Saudi import and export platform) — Fasah platform, linked from the Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) e-services
- Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) — Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture
- Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) — Saudi Food and Drug Authority
This page summarises official texts for orientation. It is not legal advice, and requirements change; confirm the current rules with your importer before each shipment.