A CE mark is not an import licence
CE is our declaration for the European market, and the only mark we print on this site because it is the only one we can hand you a document for. Most of our buyers ship into markets that run their own pre-shipment conformity programme, and each of them wants a certificate issued before the goods move — not after they arrive.
The five schemes, side by side
| Market | Programme | Who issues | What we prepare | What only you can do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | SABER → PCoF + SCoF | A SASO-approved conformity body, through the SABER platform | Technical file, nameplate data, test reports, photos, packing list | Register on SABER as importer and pay the certificate fees |
| United Arab Emirates | ECAS / EQM | Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) | Same technical file, plus Emirates-specific labelling | Hold the local trade licence and lodge the application |
| Nigeria | SONCAP → SC | SON-accredited inspection firms (CCIC, Intertek, Cotecna, SGS and others) | Pre-shipment inspection pack: invoice, packing list, test evidence | Form M and the SONCAP application as the Nigerian importer |
| Kenya | PVoC → CoC | KEBS-mandated agents (SGS, Intertek and others) | ISO 17025 laboratory reports where they exist | The PVoC request before shipment; a CoC cannot be bought at Mombasa |
| Egypt | NAFEZA / ACID | GOEIC through the NAFEZA platform, with your bank | Commercial invoice data early enough to register | Obtain the ACID number before the vessel sails — no ACID, no entry |
The paperwork order that actually works
- Before the order: tell us the destination country. It changes labelling, plug types, frequency windings and the manual language, and it is cheap to design in and expensive to retrofit.
- Before production: send us the inspection body's name and their product category form. We fill it and return evidence, not promises.
- During production: book the inspection for the last week of manufacture, with the packing list final. A booking made against an estimate gets re-quoted.
- Before sailing: the certificate must exist as a document, referenced on the invoice and packing list with matching serial or batch numbers.
- On arrival: your broker files against those same numbers. Any mismatch between invoice, packing list and certificate is where containers sit.
What usually gets a shipment held
- A certificate issued for a different model designation than the nameplate on the machine.
- Power ratings on the document that do not match the measured plate — we print the catalogue figure and will not round it up.
- Language: Arabic labelling and manuals are an import requirement in the GCC, not a courtesy.
- Frequency: a 50 Hz compressor certificate attached to a 60 Hz shipment.
- A supplier who says 'we will sort the certificate out later'. Do not buy from us if we ever say that.
HS headings you will see on our paperwork
| What you are buying | Heading usually applied | Our pages |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerated display, worktables, cold rooms | 8418 | Refrigeration |
| Ovens, proofers, fryers, bratt pans, bain-marie | 8419 | Bakery & Ovens · Western Kitchen |
| Grinders, cutters, mixers, slicers, sausage equipment | 8438 | Food Processing Machinery |
| Gas ranges and stoves of iron or steel | 7321 | Western Kitchen |
| Stainless fabrication: sinks, tables, shelving, racks | 7324 / 7326 | Buffet & Catering |
| Chafing dishes, GN pans, cutlery and smallware | 7323 | Buffet & Catering |
Tell us the country and the inspection body you intend to use in your first message. We will quote the equipment and tell you plainly which documents we can produce and where you need your own agent.
