Saudi Arabia to Standardize Charging Ports for Portable Electronics

The Saudi Arabian Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) has announced plans to implement a unified charging port standard for portable electronic devices sold in the country. This initiative will be rolled out in two stages.

The first phase, set to begin on January 1, 2025, will affect 18 product categories, including mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, e-readers, portable gaming consoles, headphones, earphones, amplifiers, keyboards, computer mice, portable GPS systems, speakers, and wireless routers. The second phase will commence on April 1, 2026, and will include laptops.

This move aims to improve user convenience, cut costs, and significantly reduce electronic waste. The standardization is expected to lower domestic consumption of chargers and charging cables by over 2.2 million units per year, contributing to the country’s sustainability goals by reducing e-waste by around 15 tons annually.

Under the new regulation, all new models of portable electronics must feature USB Type-C or USB Power Delivery standards, as outlined in SASO’s IEC 62680-1-2:2017 and IEC 62680-1-3:2017 standards.

Manufacturers and importers are urged to adjust their product development processes in line with the new requirements by August 1 to ensure smooth certification and market access without delays.

For more details, further resource can be consulted.

More information:

Anja Jerovsek

E-mail: anja.jerovsek@siq.si 

Tel.: +386 1 4778 147