The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) was established pursuant to the Royal Decree No. M/10 dated 03/03/1392 H as a body of judicial personality and of an independent budget. A board of directors, headed by his Excellency the Minister of Commerce and Industry and comprised of representatives of the major sectors concerned with standardization in the Kingdom, outlines the general policy of SASO.
SASO was one of the first pure technical governmental bodies. It governors the organizational and executive tasks related to standards, metrology and quality, including laying down and accrediting Saudi standards of goods, products and services, measurement and calibration bodies, and procedures of conformity evaluation and certification. SASO is also responsible for accrediting laboratories and certification bodies for quality systems and setting methods of sampling, testing, technical inspection as well as setting quality systems.