Frequently Asked Questions

FASEH is a new online single-window system launched by SFDA for receiving requests for the Certification of Cosmetic and Perfumery Product consignments from KSA Importers and for the issuance of Certificates of Conformity (CoCs). This single-window system was in a voluntary testing phase since 11th July 2021 and SFDA announced the date for mandatory migration to the new system starting from 3rd October 2021. CoCs issued from Intertek’s proprietary ASTRA IT System were used by Applicants for KSA Customs clearance until the mandatory enforcement date of FASEH.

The FASEH System is currently configured by SFDA with a basic functionality as listed below with a scope for future enhancements at a later stage:

• Importer or their authorised representatives can raise request for CoC for consignments of Cosmetic and Perfumery Products destined to KSA
• SFDA authorised CBs such as Intertek can receive and process such requests and generate the CoC through the FASEH System.

Yes. CoCs can be issued through the FASEH System at present. CoCs will not be generated on Intertek’s ASTRA IT System after the enforcement date.

“Contact Officers” in FASEH are those additional personnel who are nominated by the Importer within their respective primary accounts to perform applicable tasks in the FASEH System on their behalf.

FASEH has an open system configuration. Each Importer can have only 1 primary Importer account linked to their Commercial Registration No. under which unlimited Contact Officers can be added.

Contact Officers can perform all the tasks designated for the Importer’s primary account. Importers can nominate Intertek as Contact Officer to facilitate the raising of the shipment certification requests in the FASEH System on their behalf.

Importers can create a sub-account linked to an e-mail address of their authorized representative under their primary account in order to nominate a Contact Officer.

Upload of documents in the FASEH System is currently optional. Importers can upload documents in the FASEH System depending on availability at the time of application (Test Reports, Photographs etc.). Alternatively, Intertek CSCs can also get the documents offline from the Exporter/Manufacturer

The Importer or their authorized representative will upload the documents in the FASEH System while applying for CoC.

eCosma is an electronic Cosmetic notification system implemented by Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) to regulate manufacturing, importation and marketing of cosmetic products in the Kingdom Saudi Arabia.

The eCosma system is divided into many sections; these are clearance, domestic manufacture licensing, Warehouse licensing, and product notification besides issuing GMP certificate for the local manufacturer. The first step in the eCosma notification/listing process is the creation of user account and request for licence. Once this step is completed and required information is obtained, the user can initiate the process of cosmetic product notification through the eCosma system and initiate the Warehouse licensing process in parallel.

Yes, FASEH System is linked to the eCosma platform. While searching a product in FASEH during data entry stage, only those products that are notified on the eCosma platform can be selected for certification and hence, only eCosma notified products can be certified in FASEH.

Yes, Intertek has a dedicated team that can provide expert consultancy services to Applicants for facilitating eCosma notification for their Cosmetics and Perfumery Products and Manufacturing locations.

Yes, the official launch of the eCosma and the mandatory notification plan has been published through a circular issued by SFDA (Circular Number 6395 dated 17 December 2014).

The purpose of eCosma notification is to establish traceability of cosmetic products placed in the Saudi market during the market surveillance carried out by SFDA.

Yes, it is mandatory. The eCosma notification process is fully implemented since 2016 and is mandatory for any Cosmetics and Perfumery products placed in the Saudi marketplace.

The notification/listing reference numbers as well as the Warehouse Licence number is mandatory in order to obtain a Certificate of Conformity for the import of such products into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

eCosma process has to be initiated by the local Importers/Distributors. The website address is: https://ecosma.sfda.gov.sa

The CoC is still mandatory for each shipment of Cosmetic Products even if these products are subject to the eCosma notification process. Notification and Warehouse Licence numbers shall be available when requesting a Certificate of Conformity.

The eCosma Notification does not replace Intertek Conformity Assessment process (Inspection, Testing, Registration/Licensing) for the issuance of CoC.

The format of the Product Notification numbers is demonstrated as below:

• Simple Cosmetic Product Notification numbers:
  • Request number: e.g.,2021-COS-011019101191-N-110483
  • Final Notification number: e.g., 2021-011019101191-089840
• Variant, or kit Product Notification numbers:
  • Request number: e.g.,2021-COS-02-N-15009
  • Final Notification number: e.g.,2021-02-010931

Yes, starting from September 2015, Notification number is mandatory for any request for certification for Cosmetic product shipments which are subject to eCosma Notification in accordance with the notification implementation plan.

Since FASEH System is linked to eCosma platform, only those products that are notified on the eCosma platform can be selected and hence, only eCosma notified products can be certified in the FASEH System

Yes, all cosmetic products must be notified in eCosma.

Yes, all Cosmetic and Perfumery products must be notified in ECosma.

Every Importer/Distributor of Cosmetic and Perfumery products should have a Warehouse to store their products. This Warehouse should go through a licensing process by SFDA which is part of the eCosma registration process.

The Licence number is available on the Warehouse Licence certificate. It is in Arabic and has the following format ٥٦٥٦٥ -٥٥-٧٧ رقم الرخصة:   / Licence Number: 56565-55-77.

The following table shows how to decode Indo-Arabic numbers into Arabic numbers:

Warehouse Licensing is mandatory since 2018, except for:

• Direct supply to the listing person point of sale,
• Direct supply for guest houses, hotels and hospitals.

It should be available when requesting a Certificate of Conformity.

Intertek can support Exporters/Importers in facilitating the eCosma Notification by:

1. Providing information to Exporters/Importers regarding eCosma process.
2. Initiating the notification process on behalf of Exporters/Importers. For this purpose the Exporters/Importers should contact Intertek Offices in their countries and provide them with a sub-account created by them in eCosma for an Intertek user in addition to an authorization letter to Intertek to proceed with eCosma process on behalf of Exporters/Importers. Additional documents and manufacturer information may be requested.