Saudi Gazette, 17 May 2025: The Saudi Ministry of Finance approved several amendments to the Integrated Customs Tariff Schedule for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.

These amendments are set to take effect on 6 October 2025 and involve the imposition of revised duties on certain product categories, impacting importers and businesses dealing with products such as natural honey and chemical compounds. The revised tariff schedule includes a 5 percent customs duty on natural honey, including Manuka honey and other types, whether filtered or containing wax pieces. Additionally, a 2 percent duty was imposed on various chemicals, including acetophenone and benzophenone, while a 52 percent duty was applied to compounds like methyl naphthyl ketone.

The amendments also addressed the description and labeling of goods, correcting formal errors in the tariff schedules. Notably, a 5 percent duty was introduced for fresh fatty livers, and several types of frozen fish were renamed with a unified duty rate of 5 percent. Furthermore, Indian betel leaf was included in the customs tariff, while the import of khat was explicitly prohibited under the “other plants” section.

These legal changes align the tariff schedule with the decisions of the GCC countries, ensuring consistency and compliance across member states.

For more news and content, try Lexis Middle East. Click on lexis.ae/demo to begin your free trial of Lexis® Middle East platform.

You can also explore the legal landscape by subscribing to our Weekly Newsletter.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.