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Saudi Arabia Updates Security-Restricted Chemicals Lists: HS Codes, CAS Numbers, and Concentration Thresholds (29 August 2025)

🧭 Introduction

On 29 August 2025, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior issued Ministerial Decision No. (8), approving amendments to the First, Second, and Third Lists of Security-Restricted Chemicals. This is an operational update that can affect import clearance, HS declaration accuracy, and chemical compliance screening across trade and industrial supply chains.

What makes this decision practical is that it supports identification through three layers: HS codes, CAS numbers, and for selected explosive-related chemicals, published concentration thresholds relevant to mixtures and solutions.

🔹 What Does This Decision Define?

The update consolidates controlled items into three lists:

List One: hazardous chemicals that may enter into explosives (HS).
Concentration Thresholds: published “safe concentration” rules for selected explosive-related chemicals.
List Two: chemical precursors used in manufacturing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances (HS + CAS).
List Three: a combined short list (HS + CAS).

Key principle: For restricted chemicals, “classification” is not only the HS number. It can also depend on chemical identity (CAS) and, for certain items, concentration (including solid vs. aqueous solutions).

⚙️ What Has Changed?

The update strengthens screening logic by making the lists more usable for real-world workflows: procurement, logistics, SDS/COA reviews, and customs declarations.

Feature	Previously	Now (per updated lists)
Screening identifier	Often HS-only checks	HS + CAS mapping (and thresholds where published)
Mixtures / solutions	Inconsistent handling	Concentration thresholds published for selected explosive-related chemicals
Operational readiness	Harder to enforce across teams	Clearer lists to embed into procurement and import controls
Risk of clearance delays	High when descriptions are generic	Lower when invoice + SDS + HS + CAS + concentration are aligned

🌍 Objectives of the Updated Lists

Enhance security control over dual-use chemicals.
Standardize compliance screening with HS and CAS identifiers.
Reduce ambiguity for mixtures/solutions via concentration thresholds.
Improve documentation consistency across invoice, packing list, SDS, COA, and declarations.

🧪 List One — Explosive-Related Hazardous Chemicals (HS)

Use this as an HS screening layer in procurement/import workflows. If any appear in a shipment, treat the line item as high-attention for compliance review.

#	Chemical (English)	HS Code(s)
1	Powder Aluminum	760310000000 / 760320000000
2	Ammonium Perchlorate	282990130000
3	Ammonium Nitrate	310230000000
4	Barium Nitrate	283429900001
5	Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN; nitro limestone)	310260000000
6	Calcium Nitrate	283429300000
7	Calcium Nitrite	283410400000
8	Hexamethylenetetramine (Hexamine)	292129000001
9	Hydrogen Peroxide	284700000000
10	Magnesium (Powder)	810430100000
11	Magnesium Nitrate	283429400000
12	Nitric Acid	280800100000
13	Nitro Benzene	290420100001
14	Nitro Methane (Nitrocarbol)	290420100003
15	Phosphorus	280470000000
16	Potassium Chlorate	282919100000
17	Potassium Nitrate (Saltpeter)	283421000000
18	Potassium Nitrite	283410200000
19	Potassium Perchlorate	282990190001
20	Sodium Chlorate	282911000000
21	Sodium Nitrate	310250000000
22	Sodium Nitrite	283410100000
23	Sodium Perchlorate	282990110000
24	Urea	310210000001 / 310210000002
25	Hydrogen Sulfide	281119200000
26	Sodium Peroxide	281530000001
27	Magnesium Perchlorate	282990120000
28	Carbon Disulfide	281310000000
29	Methyl Chloride	290311000001
30	Nickel Nitrate	283429900002
31	Copper Nitrate	283429900003
32	Strontium Nitrate	283429900004
33	Methanol	290511000000
34	Isopropyl Alcohol (Propan-2-ol)	290512000002
35	Glycerol (Glycerin)	290545000000
36	Sodium Azide	285000310000
37	Silver Azide	284329100000
38	Silver Fulminate	284329300000
39	Lead Azide	285000320000
40	Ammonium Picrate	290899100000
41	Glycerin Trinitrate	292090500000
42	Nitro Cellulose	391220000000
43	TriNitro Benzene	290420100002
44	Di Nitro Benzene	290420100002
45	Trinitro Toluene	290420200002
46	Picric Acid	290899200000
47	Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN)	310260000000
48	Diazonium Salts	292700000001

📌 Published Concentration Thresholds (Mixtures & Solutions)

If your item is a mixture/solution, compare the declared concentration (SDS/COA) to the thresholds below.

#	Chemical	Threshold (as published)
1	Ammonium Nitrate	≥ 16%
2	Hydrogen Peroxide	≥ 12%
3	Nitric Acid	≥ 3%
4	Nitro Methane (Nitrocarbol)	≥ 10%
5	Potassium Chlorate	≥ 40% (solid); 10% (aqueous)
6	Potassium Nitrate (Saltpeter)	≥ 40% (solid); ≥ 5% (aqueous)
7	Potassium Nitrite	≥ 5% (aqueous)
8	Potassium Perchlorate	≥ 40% (solid); 10% (aqueous)
9	Sodium Chlorate	≥ 40% (solid); 10% (aqueous)
10	Sodium Nitrate	≥ 5% (aqueous)
11	Sodium Nitrite	≥ 5% (aqueous)
12	Sodium Perchlorate	≥ 40% (solid); 10% (aqueous)

🧾 List Two — Drug & Psychotropic Precursors (HS + CAS)

For operational screening, map items by HS + CAS (not trade names) and ensure invoice/SDS consistency.

#	Chemical (English)	HS Number	CAS
1	Acetic Anhydride	291524000000	108-24-7
2	N-Acetylanthranilic Acid	292423000000	89-52-1
3	Ephedrine	293941000000	299-42-3
4	Ergometrine	293961000000	60-79-7
5	Ergotamine	293962000000	113-15-5
6	Isosafrole	293291000000	120-58-1
7	Lysergic acid	293963000000	82-58-6
8	3,4-Methylenedioxyphenyl-2-propanone	293292100000	4676-39-5
9	Norephedrine	293944000000	14838-15-4
10	Phenylacetic acid	291634000000	103-82-2
11	1-Phenyl-2-propanone	291431000000	103-79-7
12	alpha-Phenylacetoacetonitrile (APAAN)	292640000000	4468-48-8
13	Piperonal	293293000000	120-57-0
14	Pseudoephedrine	293942000000	90-82-4
15	Safrole	293294000000	94-59-7
16	Anthranilic Acid	292243000000	118-92-3
17	Ethyl Ether	290911000000	60-29-7
18	Piperidine	293332000000	110-89-4
19	Sulphuric Acid	280700100000 / 280700200000	7664-93-9
20	4-ANILINO-N-PHENETHYLPIPERIDINE (ANPP)	293336000000	21409-26-7
21	Butyl ester of P-2-P methyl glycidic acid (all stereoisomers)	291899909999	n/a
22	Butyl ester of 3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidic acid (all stereoisomers)	293299009999	n/a
23	1-Boc-4-piperidone	293339900000	79099-07-3
24	Ethyl ester of P-2-P methyl glycidic acid (all stereoisomers)	291899909999	41232-97-7
25	Ethyl ester of 3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidic acid (“PMK ethyl glycidate”) (all stereoisomers)	293299009999	28578-16-7
26	Ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl and tert-butyl esters of 3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidic acid (all stereoisomers)	293299009999	n/a
27	Tret-BUTYL-4-(PHENYLAMINO) PIPERIDINE-1-CARBOXYLATE (1-Boc-4-AP)	293334000000	125541-22-2
28	Isobutyl ester of P-2-P methyl glycidic acid (all stereoisomers)	291899909999	n/a
29	Isobutyl ester of 3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidic acid (all stereoisomers)	293299009999	n/a
30	Isopropyl ester of P-2-P methyl glycidic acid (all stereoisomers)	291899909999	n/a
31	Isopropyl ester of 3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidic acid (all stereoisomers)	293299009999	n/a
32	3,4-MDP-2-P METHYL GLYCIDATE (“PMK Glycidate”)	293299000003	13605-48-6
33	3,4-MDP-2-P METHYL GLYCIDIC ACID (“PMK Glycidic Acid”) (all stereoisomers)	293299000004	2167189-50-4
34	Methyl alpha-phenyl acetoacetate (MAPA)	291830100000	16648-44-5
35	Methyl/ethyl/propyl/isopropyl/butyl/isobutyl/sec-butyl/tert-butyl esters of P-2-P methyl glycidic acid (footnote form)	291899909999	n/a
36	P-2-P methyl glycidic acid (“BMK glycidic acid”) (all stereoisomers)	291899909999	25547-51-7
37	Methyl ester of P-2-P methyl glycidic acid (all stereoisomers)	291899909999	80532-66-7
38	Norfentanyl (N-phenyl-N-(piperidin-4-yl) propionamide)	293339900000	1609-66-1
39	N-PHENETHYL-4-PIPERIDONE (NPP)	293337000000	39742-60-4
40	N-PHENYL-4-PIPERIDINE AMINE (4-AP, 4-ANILINO-PIPERIDINE)	293339900000	23056-29-3
41	ALPHA-PHENYLACETOACETAMIDE (APAA) (including its optical isomers)	292429100000	4433-77-6
42	4-piperidone	293339900000	41661-47-6
43	Propyl ester of P-2-P methyl glycidic acid (all stereoisomers)	291899909999	n/a
44	Propyl ester of 3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidic acid (all stereoisomers)	293299009999	n/a
45	Sec-butyl ester of P-2-P methyl glycidic acid (all stereoisomers)	291899909999	n/a
46	Sec-butyl ester of 3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidic acid (all stereoisomers)	293299009999	n/a
47	Tert-butyl ester of P-2-P methyl glycidic acid (all stereoisomers)	291899909999	n/a
48	Tert-butyl ester of 3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidic acid (all stereoisomers)	293299009999	n/a
49	γ-Butyrolactone (GBL)	293220900000	96-48-0

🧷 List Three — Combined Controlled Chemicals (HS + CAS)

#	Chemical (English)	HS Number	CAS
1	Potassium Permanganate	284161000000	7722-64-7
2	Acetone	291411000000	67-64-1
3	Hydrochloric Acid	280610000000	7647-01-0
4	Methyl Ethyl Ketone	291412000000	78-93-3
5	Toluene	290230000000	108-88-3

🏢 Impact on Businesses and Importers

1. Documentation Discipline

Generic product names (e.g., “cleaner”, “etchant”, “oxidizer”) are not compliance descriptions. For controlled items, align invoice description, SDS, COA, and the HS line around a defensible chemical identity (and CAS where applicable).

2. Mixtures Require Threshold Screening

If a product contains a listed explosive-related chemical, concentration becomes a gating factor. Track concentration in your item master and verify against each batch’s SDS/COA.

3. Build Master Data as HS + CAS (and Concentration Where Relevant)

The most reliable operational approach is to map each chemical SKU by HS, CAS, and concentration rules (for threshold items). This reduces clearance delays and audit friction.

✅ Conclusion

Saudi Arabia’s updated security-restricted chemical lists reinforce a modern compliance reality: for controlled chemicals, the decision point is often HS + CAS + concentration, not HS alone. Companies that operationalize this mapping inside procurement, logistics, and customs workflows will see fewer holds, fewer disputes, and stronger audit readiness.

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