Saudi Arabia is the largest forage import market in the GCC. Since the Kingdom phased out domestic green-fodder cultivation to conserve groundwater, its dairy giants and thousands of smaller livestock operations depend on imported Rhodes Grass, alfalfa and silage. This guide walks a first-time importer through the regulatory steps and documents involved.
Note: import regulations change. Use this guide as an orientation, and confirm current requirements with MEWA and your customs broker before contracting. Your exporter should be able to support every document listed here.
Who regulates feed imports in Saudi Arabia?
The key authority for feed and fodder is MEWA — the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. Depending on the product category, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) may also be involved for feed materials. Customs processing runs through the FASAH electronic platform used at all Saudi ports.
Step 1 — Register and obtain an import permit
Importers of animal feed generally need:
- A Saudi commercial registration (CR) with an activity covering feed/fodder trade
- Registration on the FASAH platform for customs clearance
- An import permit from MEWA for the specific feed category, applied for before shipment
Established importers handle this routinely; if you are new, a licensed customs broker will save you weeks.
Step 2 — The document set your exporter must provide
For plant-based forage (Rhodes Grass, alfalfa hay, corn silage) arriving from Pakistan, the standard package is:
| Document | Issued by | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice & packing list | Exporter | Value, quantity, bale count |
| Bill of lading | Shipping line | Title and transport contract |
| Phytosanitary certificate | DPP/NPPO Pakistan | Confirms pest- and disease-free status |
| Certificate of origin | TDAP / Chamber of Commerce | Confirms Pakistani origin |
| Quality/analysis certificate | SGS or equivalent lab | Nutritional values, contaminants |
| Fumigation certificate | Approved fumigation company | Treatment of the cargo |
Some consignments may additionally be asked for pesticide-residue or heavy-metal screening results — a professional exporter includes these in the SGS scope rather than scrambling after arrival.
Step 3 — Arrival, inspection and release
- Documents are lodged in FASAH before or on arrival at Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdulaziz Port (Dammam) or Jubail.
- MEWA/quarantine officers may inspect and sample the consignment — clean, well-documented cargo normally clears quickly.
- Customs duty on forage products has historically been low or zero for many feed categories; confirm the current tariff line for your product with your broker.
- After release, cargo moves to the buyer's warehouse or farm.
A well-prepared container typically clears in days. The common failure points are mismatched details between documents (bale counts, weights, container numbers) and missing phytosanitary certificates — both fully preventable.
Practical tips from the exporter's side
- Match every number. The invoice, packing list, B/L and phytosanitary certificate must state identical quantities and container numbers.
- Insist on pre-shipment copies. Review the full document set before the vessel departs Karachi — fixing an error at origin takes a day; fixing it at destination takes weeks.
- Plan around seasons. Saudi demand peaks in summer months when local supply is lowest; book production slots early.
- Start with a trial container. One 40-foot container lets you verify quality, documentation discipline and timelines before committing to monthly volumes.
How Furqan Agri-Supply supports Saudi buyers
We ship from Karachi to Jeddah, Dammam and Jubail with the complete document package listed above — DPP phytosanitary certificates, TDAP-attested origin certificates, SGS analysis per shipment and fumigation records. Our products are natural plant forage: halal by nature, with no animal-derived content.
Sourcing Rhodes Grass, alfalfa or corn silage for Saudi operations? Request a quotation — include your port (Jeddah/Dammam/Jubail) and monthly tonnage, and we will respond within 24 hours. You may also find our Rhodes Grass export guide useful.