2024.06.01 SASO certification and quality mark

EMCI Register is official partner for pleasure craft certification in Saudi Arabia

On April 6, 2023, Saudi Arabia adopted its “Technical Regulations for Recreational Craft” (TRP) reference MA-191-23-05-01-01. At first glance, the regulations resemble the EU Recreational Craft Directive, with similar standards. In really, the regulation has much more stringent certification requirements.

Like RCD, but different

The regulations are almost a copy of the EU Recreational Craft Directive (RCD). However, the regulations contain some notable differences. We list some of the differences.

• All labels and builder's plates must be in the Arabic language.
  

• All pleasure craft within the scope of TRP must be certified by a recognized accredited body. The RCD only requires higher-risk pleasure craft to be certified.
• Repeated factory visits for constance production are mandatory and must be performed by an approved accredited body.
  
• The TRP mandates compliance with a specific list of standards to meet the essential requirements. The RCD relies on the harmonized standards. The harmonized standards are often, but not always, the latest (most recent) standard on the ISO website. This delay effect means that RCD (EU) certified pleasure craft do not automatically comply with the TRP regulations, and must be adapted to the latest (most recent( ISO) standard which is then therefore not yet harmonized. In practice, this is a serious concern because quite a few ISO standards have recently been modified (or will be modified soon) and are not yet harmonized, so these standards are not yet applied to RCD.

Status EMCI Register

EMCI Register has partnered with Intertek UK (accepted body #0071) and through this partnership can certify pleasure craft for the TRP scheme.

Saudi Arabia is a growth market and a gateway to the region. Above all, it is a market for the larger and luxurious pleasure craft. So for various reasons, it is interesting for European yacht builders to become or remain active in this market.

Do you want to export pleasure boats to Saudi Arabia, or are you already doing so?

Do you have any questions?

Then contact EMCI Register and we will be happy to help you!