Saudi Gazette report RIYADH – The Customs Department has clarified that there has been no change in the law that banned import of used or retreaded tires into the Kingdom. According to a statement issued by the department on Wednesday, new tires will be allowed into the country only after tests ascertaining they conform with approved standards, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Eissa Al-Qudaibi, spokesman for the Customs Department, said random samples would be sent to licensed laboratories for analysis. A total of 67,732 tires have been returned to their original destination last year after they failed to meet Saudi specifications. The clarification followed reports in a section of the media that said used tires worth SR6.4 billion were imported into the Kingdom in 2012. The statement said the reports were based on misinterpretation of a technical term in the Customs Law that dealt with imported tires for buses and trucks. Al-Qudaibi reiterated that the ban on import of used tires would continue in accordance with Clause 4012 of the Customs Law.