RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/OMN/11/Rev.1
2 September 1999
(99-3665)
Working Party on the Accession
of the Sultanate of OmanOriginal:  English
ACCESSION OF THE SULTANATE OF OMAN
Communication from the Sultanate of Oman
Revision
The following revised communication concerning new laws, regulations, ministerial decrees
and changes to existing laws before accession has been received from the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry of the Government of the Sultanate of Oman.
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New Laws, Regulations, Ministerial Decrees and Changes to Existing Laws Before Accession
Synoptic Table
The Sultanate of Oman is committed to the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement.  An
action plan for this purpose is given in the following synoptic table.
S.No. Law Present Position and On-going
ProgrammeFuture Programme
1 Trademarks Trademark Law is in place since
1987 and is being implemented.Points of conformity and non-
conformity of the existing law
with the provisions of the TRIPSAgreement have been identified.Draft amended law has beenprepared in consultation withWIPO.  It is has been examined
and is being translated in English
prior to submitting to WTO andWIP for remarks.* Amendments to be Trade Marks
Law will be promulgated bySeptember 1999, to bring the
Law into full conformity with
the provisions of the TRIPSAgreement.WT/ACC/OMN/11/Rev.1
Page 2
S.No. Law Present Position and On-going
ProgrammeFuture Programme
2 Copyright and related
rightsCopyright Law of Oman is in
force since 1996 and is beingimplemented.Points of conformity and non-
conformity of the existing law
with the provisions of the TRIPSAgreement have been identified.Draft amended law has beenprepared in consultation withWIPO and is under examination
and will be submitted to WTO and
WIPO for remarks earlySeptember 1999.* Amendments to the Copyright
Law will be promulgated byNovember 1999, to bring theLaw into full conformity with
the provisions of the TRIPS
Agreement.
3 Patents GCC Unified Patent System is
already in force since May 1999.Oman subscribes to it with theissue of the Ministerial Decree in
September 1993 which adopted
the GCC Unified Patent System asthe Patent Law of Oman.-
4 Geographical
IndicationsDraft law on geographical
indications of origin is beingtranslated in English and will besubmitted to WTO and WIPO for
remarks* A new law will be promulgated
by September 1999.
5 Industrial Designs. Draft law on geographical
indications of origin is beingtranslated in English and will besubmitted to WTO and WIPO forremarks.* A law on industrial designs in
conformity with the provisionsof the TRIPS Agreement will bepromulgated by September1999.
6 Layout Design of
Integrated Circuits There is no law at present.
WIPO has provided a draft lawwhich has been examined.  It is
being translated in English and
will be submitted to WTO andWIPO for remarks.* A new law will be promulgated
by September 1999.
7 Trade Secrets No law at present.
A draft addition to the Trademarklaw has been prepared inconsultation with WIPO.* A law will be promulgated by
September 1999.
8A b u s e  o f  A n t i -
Competitive Practices.No law at present
A draft addition to the Trademark
law has been prepared inconsultation with WIPO.* A new law will be promulgated
by September 1999.
9 Customs Valuation Draft law on Customs Valuation
has been prepared by WCO.  It isnow under examination and willtake on board comments from a
WTO member.* Prepared revised draft law,
taking into account Members'comments will be submitted toWTO and WCO for remarks by
September 1999.
* A new law will be promulgated
by December 1999.WT/ACC/OMN/11/Rev.1
Page 3
S.No. Law Present Position and On-going
ProgrammeFuture Programme
10 TBT Work on establishing an Enquiry
Point within DGSM and preparinga Draft Ministerial Decree toimplement the Agreement on
Technical Barriers to Trade is
ongoing.* An Enquiry Point within DGSM
will be established by September1999.
* Ministerial Decree implementing
the provisions of the TBT
Agreement will be issued byOctober 1999.
11 SPS Work on establishing an Enquiry
Point within the Ministry ofAgriculture and Fisheries andpreparing a Draft Ministerial
Decree to implement the
Agreement on Sanitary andPhytosanitary Measures is on-going.* An Enquiry Point within the
Ministry of Agriculture andFisheries will be established bySeptember 1999.
* Ministerial Decree implementing
the provisions of the SPSAgreement will be issued byOctober 1999.
12 Law on Organization
and Encouragement ofIndustryThe law is being revised to bring it
into conformity with WTO rules.* The revision/amendment will be
completed prior to Oman'saccession to the WTO.  The draft
revision will be submitted to the
WTO.
13 Law establishing the
Commercial CourtLegislation on right of appeal to a
judicial body in all trade-relatedand customs matters is beingexamined to be incorporated in thelaw establishing the Commercial
Court.* Amendments to the law
establishing the CommercialCourt to include the right ofappeals in customs matters andall trade-related  matters will be
promulgated by December 1999.
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