G/SPS/N/OMN/54
12 January 2015
(15-0198)  Page: 1/2
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English
 
  NOTIFICATION 
1. Notifying Member: OMAN 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible: Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Microbiological criteria for f oodstuffs (ICS Code: 67.05 ) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document: Microbiological criteria for foodstuffs  Language(s): 
Arabic and English  Number of pages: 46 and 33 
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2014/sps/OMN/14_5658_00_e.pdf  
http://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2014/sps/OMN/14_5658_00_x.pdf  
6. Description of content: This Omani/Gulf draft technical regulation concerns 
microbiological limits for some foodstuffs intended for human consumption and for some 
food ingredients used in food industry, definition and requirements criteria for technical 
conformity. Items related to requirements (item 4) are compulsory. The remaining items are voluntary. 
7. Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text ) Codex standard 292-2008 - Standard for live and raw 
bivalve mollusks. 
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[ ] None 
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
[X] Yes   [ ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   G/SPS/N/OMN/54 
 
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  9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available: 
(1) Brockmann, S., Piechotowski, I., Kimmig , P. (2004). Salmonella in sesame seed 
products. J Food Prot 67 (1), p: 178-180; (2) Bull, A., Crerar, S., and Beers, M. (2002). 
Australia's Imported Food Program - a valuable source of information on microorganisms 
in foods. CDI 26(1), 28-32. (11, 30); (3) CAC/GL 50-2004 General guidelines on sampling.   
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [X] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) :   
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 13 March 2015 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
National Enquiry Point and Information Centre (NEPIC) 
P.O. Box: 550 Postal code: 113 Muscat 
Sultanate of Oman 
Tel: +(968) 2481 7252 Fax: +(968) 2481 7040 E-mail: nepic@business.gov.om 
13. Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notifi cation Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
National Enquiry Point and Information Centre (NEPIC)  
P.O. Box: 550 Postal code: 113 Muscat 
Sultanate of Oman 
Tel: +(968) 2481 7252 Fax: +(968) 2481 7040 E-mail: nepic@business.gov.om