Logistics Guide for Exporting 3C&Beauty Product

Why are 3C products and cosmetics almost exclusively transported by air?

These two types of goods share three common features, which make sea transportation an unsuitable option:

1. High value: The value of a batch of 3C or beauty products is often several times that of regular goods of the same volume. The capital occupation during the 30-day transit period and the risk of goods damage are unacceptable.

2. Time-sensitive: 3C products are afraid of price drops due to iterations (new models come out while old ones depreciate), and beauty products are afraid of seasons and expiration dates (near-expiration means poor sales).

3. Fast platform pace: The major promotions in the Middle East e-commerce occur in concentrated periods, and a one-day stockout can lead to a loss of ranking.

Air freight from door to door takes 5 to 8 days. This is the only solution among these two types of goods that can maintain the sales window. However, the high value of the goods means that none of the three steps - compliance, packaging, and insurance - can be omitted.

3C Certification Requirements for the Middle East Region

Saudi Arabia：

• Regular electronic department store adopts the SABER's PCoC + SCoC dual certification system

• Electrical products that are energized require IECEE certification (for battery products, an UN38.3 report is also necessary)

• Attention to ICT devices: New standard SASO 3114:2026 will be mandatory from November 1, 2026. It covers mobile phones, tablets, mobile routers, IoT modules, and Wi-Fi devices. Certificates of the old standard will be permanently invalid as of March 31, 2027.

United Arab Emirates：

• Regulated electronic products undergo ECAS (MoIAT system) certification

• Certain product categories require ESMA-related compliance documents.

Air freight special notice: Products with lithium batteries are classified as sensitive cargo for aviation. A UN38.3 test report + MSDS + aviation transportation assessment report must be provided, and compliant packaging must be used as per the airline's requirements. Without these documents, the goods will not be able to be loaded onto the plane upon arrival at the airport.

Certification Requirements for Cosmetics Export to the Middle East

Saudi Arabia (SFDA System):

• Complete product registration through the GHAD system and obtain the listing certificate

• Each batch of shipment must be accompanied by a conformity certificate (CoC) issued by an institution recognized by the SFDA, and it will be cleared through customs along with the goods on the Fasah platform.

• The labels must be in Arabic and comply with SFDA.CO/GSO 1943; the components must be listed item by item along with their concentrations and uses.

• The approval decision for the filing will be made by the SFDA within 15 days. The renewal application must be submitted 90 days in advance.

United Arab Emirates (Dual Regulation):

• Federal level: ECAS (MoIAT) certification requires submission of the test report from an accredited laboratory and the conformity declaration.

• Emirate level: Sales in Dubai must complete product registration through the Montaji system at the Dubai City Hall.

Regarding Halal certification: Currently, most GCC countries do not consider Halal certification as a mandatory requirement for cosmetics. However, Middle Eastern buyers and consumers are highly concerned about this. Products with certification have a significant advantage in platform conversion and channel negotiations. It is recommended to assess based on the needs of target channels rather than implementing it uniformly.

Ingredient red line: The restrictions on certain preservatives, sunscreens, and heavy metals in the Middle East are stricter than in other markets. During the formulation stage, the target country's prohibited and restricted list should be checked to avoid changing the formula after production.

Packaging: The "invisible insurance" for high-value goods

Key points for 3C packaging:

• Anti-static bag + Independent cushioning to prevent multiple devices from colliding with each other

• The lithium batteries are packaged separately with insulation, and the electrodes are protected to prevent short circuits.

• The outer box must have a sufficient pressure resistance level to withstand multiple handling during air transportation. Second-hand boxes are prohibited.

• The weight of each box is controlled within the range that can be handled by human labor. The damage rate of overweight boxes has significantly increased.

Key points for makeup packaging:

• For liquid products, perform secondary sealing (wrap the bottle opening with film + use individual bags), to prevent leakage and contamination of the entire container.

• Pressure tanks (spray cans, hair gel) are restricted items for aviation. It is necessary to confirm the acceptance of the airline and the destination country.

• The glass bottles need to be separated by honeycomb partitions, and a drop test should be conducted for the entire box.

• Temperature-sensitive products avoid exposure to high-temperature compartments and prolonged exposure on the tarmac.

Our approach: Before shipment, we provide suggestions for optimizing packaging, which not only reduces the volume and weight (saving on shipping costs) but also lowers the damage rate; at the same time, we take photos of the packing to keep as records, serving as evidence for any cargo damage.

What can we do for you?

• 29 years of dedicated air freight services in the Middle East. We offer year-round charter flights and container bookings. During peak seasons, there is guaranteed availability of shipping space.

• Experience in handling sensitive goods: Declaration and packaging plans for live products, liquid cosmetics, and pressure tank-type goods for airlines

• Certification Pre-Review: Pre-shipment verification of SABER/IECEE/ECAS/SFDA documents to resolve issues before shipment and ensure safe departure.

• Air freight door-to-door service: The Dubai and Saudi branches have their own customs clearance teams, and the goods can be delivered to the destination within 5 to 8 days.

• Platform warehousing: Amazon SPN service provider, official partner of Noon. After customs clearance, goods are directly delivered to FBA/FBN warehouses.

• Insurance application assistance: Match insurance types based on the value of the goods, and assist in presenting evidence and making claims in case of an incident.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can 3C products with batteries be transported by air?

A: Yes, but an UN38.3 report, MSDS and air transportation certification report are required, and the packaging must meet the airline's requirements. During the event, we will provide a dedicated channel for sensitive goods and pre-approve the documents.

Q: Can cosmetics be shipped without undergoing SFDA registration?

A: It is not recommended. Saudi Arabia requires that products complete SFDA registration and obtain CoC for each batch before they can be cleared for customs. Without registration, the goods will be detained upon arrival at the port.

Q: Can perfumes and sprays be transported by air?

A: Perfumes containing alcohol and pressure tanks are restricted items for air travel. They need to be declared according to the airline's regulations. Some channels are not capable of transporting them. Before shipment, please provide the ingredients and packaging form. We will confirm the feasible channels at that time.