GSO Certificate of Conformity for Nicotine Pouches
This service enables manufacturers, importers, and distributors of Nicotine Pouch Products — including oral nicotine pouches in various strengths and flavors — to obtain the required Certificate of Conformity (CoC) in accordance with GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) standards and national regulatory frameworks. The certification ensures that nicotine pouch products comply with established health, safety, quality, packaging, and labeling requirements before being imported, distributed, or marketed within GCC member states.
The CoC serves as a mandatory approval document for customs clearance and market authorization, confirming that nicotine pouch products undergo comprehensive conformity assessment prior to approval. Applicants are required to provide supporting documentation, including laboratory test reports for nicotine concentration and harmful substances, ingredient disclosures, stability and shelf-life data, packaging specifications, and health warning labels for regulatory review. Certification guarantees compliance with GCC regulations, protects consumer health, and facilitates legal and responsible trade in nicotine pouch products across the region.
Certificate Types:
- Conformity form for nicotine pouch products according to the Bahraini technical regulations BH 6:2025
- Attach a valid commercial registration certificate and a health certificate for the importer that includes tobacco trade activity.
- The factory’s commitment to the requirements of ISO quality systems (9001 GSO ISO) while providing a valid ISO 9001 certificate for the facility (factory).
- Attach a copy of the information label and warnings on the product (front and back of the package)."Artwork"
- Provide a document describing the production sequence.
- Provide complete data on all ingredients used and their quantities in descending order by weight, including the trade name, type, and international identification numbers for the ingredients in various international classifications, accompanied by a statement specifying the reasons for including these ingredients.
- Provide a valid recent test certificate from an accredited laboratory according to GSO ISO 17025, covering all analyses mentioned in the regulation.
- Provide data on nicotine doses and absorption when consumed under normal or foreseeable conditions.
- Attach a description of the components of the nicotine pouches, and any functional element or part of the pouch, such as ingredients, pouch material, and nicotine content
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The following information must be written on the label:
- Product name “Nicotine Pouches/sachets.
- Nicotine content per pouch/sachet not exceeding 20 mg.
- Number of pouches/sachets “not exceeding 20” in the package + total gross weight of the package in grams and the net weight per pouch/sachet.
- Production date / Expiry date + country of origin, manufacture, or packing.
- Ingredients listed in descending order by weight.
- The data card must not contain any names, symbols, logos, images, or phrases that violate public order, nor any misleading or promotional information.
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Declaration from the manufacturer including:
- Product compliance with the national technical regulation for “Nicotine Pouches Products” and confirmation that the production process ensures adherence to the requirements of the technical regulation.
- Product compliance with child-resistant packaging Standard GSO ISO 8317.
- Full responsibility of the manufacturer and importer for the quality and safety of the product when placed on the market and under normal or foreseeable conditions of use.
- Accuracy of the shelf-life period stated on the product’s data card.
- The nicotine used in tobacco-free nicotine pouches complies with pharmaceutical-grade purity specifications according to the European Pharmacopoeia or the United States Pharmacopoeia.
- Ministry of Health – The Anti-Smoking & Tobacco Group
- Ministry of Interior – Customs Affairs (National Bureau for Revenue – oversees customs fees and excise duties).
- Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Tourism
- Ministry of interior – General Directorate of Traffic.
- Law No. 8 of 2009 on combating smoking and all forms of tobacco governs the control and regulation of tobacco product imports, including conformity requirements.
- GSO 246/2011 — GCC-wide technical regulation for tobacco labeling.
- BH 2:2021 — Bahraini regulation for electronic nicotine products, effective from November 11, 2021 (enforced from May 12, 2022)
