WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1  
1 July 2014  
(14-3771)  Page: 1/49  
Trade Policy Review Body 
22 and 24 April 2014 Original: English/anglais/inglés  
 
  TRADE POLICY REVIEW 
OMAN 
MINUTES OF THE MEETING 
Addendum 
Chairperson: H.E. Mr. Joakim Reiter (Sweden) 
This document contains the advance written questions and additional questions by WTO 
Members, and replies provided by Oman.1 
 
 
Organe d'examen des politiques commerciales 
22 et 24 avril 2014 
EXAMEN DES POLITIQUES COMMERCIALES 
OMAN 
COMPTE RENDU DE LA RÉUNION 
Addendum 
Président: S.E. M. Joakim Reiter (Suède) 
Le présent document contient les questions écrites communiquées à l'avance par les 
Membres de l'OMC, leurs questions additionnelles, et les réponses fournies par Oman.1 
 
 
Órgano de Examen de las Políticas Comerciales 
22 y 24 de abril de 2014 
EXAMEN DE LAS POLÍTICAS COMERCIALES 
SULTANIA DE OMÁN 
ACTA DE LA REUNIÓN 
Addendum 
Presidente: Excmo. Sr. Joakim Reiter (Suecia) 
En el presente documento figuran las preguntas presentadas anticipadamente por escrito y 
las preguntas adicionales de los Miembros de la OMC, así como las respuestas facilitadas por 
Sultania de Omán.1 
                                               
1 In English only./En anglais seulement./En inglés solamente. WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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TRADE POLICY REVIEW OF 
QATAR, THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN AND OMAN 
22 AND 24 APRIL 2014 
Replies from Oman to advance written questions 
QUESTIONS FROM AUSTRALIA 
 
Report by the Secretariat - WT/TPR/S/295 
 2 TRADE POLICY REGIME: FRAMEWORK AND OBJECTIVES 
2.4.2.5 Trade Agreements and Arrangements / Regional and bilateral agreements / 
Agreements not yet in force 
Page 20, Paragraph 2.25  
What purpose does Australia’s provision of unila teral trade preferences to Oman under the GSP 
system now serve given Oman has recently gr aduated from the EU and Japan’s GSP schemes? 
 
Reply: 
 
GSP of Australia is still beneficial for Om an’s exports because of the preferential 
margins. 
 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 3.4.2.2 Measures affecting production an d trade / Standards and other technical 
requirements / Sanitary and phytosanitary measures 
Page 34, Section 3.57  
How does Oman work with the Gulf Standards Organisation (GSO) in standards setting under the 
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)? Of particular interest is how Oman demonstrates WTO principles of transparency and trade partner participation through the standards setting process.   
Reply: 
 
The GSO represented by Standards and Me trology Department coordinates efforts 
between the Member States to issue GSO St andards in all areas, and those Standards 
cover a broad range of important goods, whether imported or manufactured locally 
which have a direct contact to consumer. 
The GSO Technical Committees are an effect ive tool for technical professionals to 
contribute their expertise in the deve lopment of a unified Gulf standard. 
With the importance of making the Gulf standa rds in a manner of collective action at all 
levels to achieve high quality in the indust ry and establish a base to a systematized 
competition and the reduction of technical ba rriers to trade at member states level. 
Allowing the participation of the parties co ncerned and interested in the standards in 
both the public and private sectors (Stakeho lders) through the national standardization 
bodies of Member States, to contribute to the following: 
‐ Participate in the work of technical co mmittees, sub- committees or task groups. 
‐ Participate in the activities of technica l committees of national Member States, 
corresponding to GSO technical committees. 
‐ Propose GSO draft standards and technical regulations of high priority and an 
urgent need. WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  ‐ Contributing to study and comment on GSO standards and technical regulations 
projects during the given period. 
 As a member of Codex Alimentarius, it would also be of interest to other WTO countries if Oman 
could include information on its work to align food standards with Codex Alimentarius, ISO, and 
other international organizations and how trading partners could be more engaged in the drafting process.  
 
Reply: 
 
‐ Participating in reviewing draft stan dards which prepared by ISO & Codex 
Alimentarius Members. 
‐ Attending meetings in order to discuss the points related to the draft standards eg. 
ISO & Codex Alimentarius. 
‐ Notify WTO for establishing the technical regulations drafts for countries members 
and get the feedbacks . 
 
4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR 
4.2.1 Agriculture / Policy objectives and key features Page 42, Paragraph 4.11  
Ministerial Decision No. 41/2010 sets out the re quirements on the registration and use of 
farmland.  Foreigners are not allowed to own agricultural land.  
a) Does the Decree distinguish between the terms “f armland” and “agricultural land?” Section 4.11 
states that “agricultural land must be used for farming” unless there are concerns relating to water availability and/or quality. If there is a differe nce, can landowners, for example, unregister their 
farmland, and then convert the land to a timber plantation? 
 Reply: 
No difference between agricultural land and farm land. 
 
b) Can foreigners invest but not necessarily have controlling interest in agricultural land, or is all foreign investment on agricultural land prohibited?   
 
Reply: 
No 
 
c) Can foreigners invest in fo restry/crops/livestock on land owned by an Omani national? 
 Reply: 
No  4.5.2.2 Services / Financ ial Services / Insurance 
Page 51, Paragraph 4.65 & 4.66  
 Australia notes that cross-border trade of reinsurance services is free of restrictions, while 
insurance services can only be provided via a subsidiary or branch.  Could Oman please advise 
whether it has considered permitting cross-border trade of insurance services to cover certain insurance risks?  
Reply: 
No 
 
4.5.4.1 Services / Transport services / Land transport 
Page 53, Paragraph 4.82 
 
Australia notes that foreign participation in road transport services is limited to a maximum of 70 
per cent.  Could Oman please clarify whether the maximum limit of 70 per cent refers to a foreign equity cap?  If not, please provide information on the current approximate percentage of foreign participation in the sector? WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  Reply: 
There appears to be a misunderstanding in the Secretariat report. Oman has not made 
any commitment on road transport services in  its Schedule of Specific Commitments on 
Services. 
 WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  QUESTONS FROM CANADA 
 Secretariat Report – Oman (S295)  
Part 4. Trade Policies by Sector: Tourism: paragraph 4.94, page 55  
 It is noted that licensing requirements apply to numerous activities in the tourism sector. 
 
1. Could Oman provide more information about the requirements that need to be met in order 
to obtain a license, including any requirements relating to citizenship or residency? 
 
Reply : 
 
The applicant should be an Omani national in case of individuals. In the case of companies, these 
can either be wholly Omani owned companies or companies with joint Omani-foreign partner-ship. 
In case of joint Omani-foreign companies, a copy of the contract signed by both Omani and foreign partners should be submitted. 
 
- All activities and tourism licenses and their requirements are listed in the Ministry's website.  Part 4. Trade Policies by Sector: Tourism: paragraph 4.95, page 55  
 
It is noted that foreign investors in the tourism subsector may own up to 70% of total equity.  
2. Could Oman provide more information on any further restrictions on foreign ownership or 
foreign provision of hotel and restaurant services specifically? 
 
Reply: 
 
There are no further restrictions other than those specified in the schedule of specific commitments. Furthermore information on foreign investment in such services is readily available 
at the Ministry of Tourism webs ite (www.omantourism.gov.om).  WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  QUESTIONS FROM CHINA 
 
Questions based on Report by the Secretariat (WT/TPR/S/295)  
Investment Regime 
 
Page 20, para.2.29 
 
The Report states that“[u]nder the Law, all foreign investments require approval by the MOCI, and foreign investment is banned in companies with capital of RO 150,000 or less. Above this threshold, the Law allows foreign investors to own up to 49% of companies; this share can be 
increased to 65% by the Minister of Commerce and Industry”. 
 Questions: 
 
Please confirm whether the Government has any plan to reduce the restrictions on foreign investment, with respect to approval procedures, sector and ownership limitations.  
 
Reply: 
 No. If and when there is a change, it will be notified to the WTO. 
 
Page 21, para.2.31  
The Report states that“[f]oreign investment is not allowed in real estate brokerage services; 
employment placement services; investigation and security services;…”.  
Questions: 
 Please confirm whether the Government has any plan to open up those restricted sectors to foreign investment. 
 
Reply: 
 
No. If and when there is a change, it will be notified to the WTO. WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  QUESTIONS FROM THE EU 
 WT/TPR/S/295 WTO Secretariat's Report - Oman  
1 ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 
1.2 Recent economic developments Page 9, paragraph 1.4   
 
The Secretariat's report states that "Oman's labour market is characterized by a strong presence of migrant workers". All expatriates are only authorised to stay and work in Oman if they have a sponsor. 
 
EU question 1: Does the Sultanate of Oman cons ider replacing the present sponsorship / kafala 
system by a system in which the residence and othe r rights of an expatriate would not depend on 
an individual Omani citizen or company as sponsor / kafeel?  
Reply to EU Question 1 
The question in its present form is not releva nt to any WTO provision. It is not relevant 
to Trade Policy Review. 
 
Page 9, paragraph 1.5 The Secretariat's report states that the "Omanization initiative, a quota system that mandates employing specified percentages of Omani citizens, has been in operation since 1988 and is a high 
priority for the Government". 
 EU questions 2 and 3: Could the Sultanate of Om an elaborate on its method for determining the 
quotas for different sectors which ensures that these are realistically attainable by businesses? 
Could the Sultanate further inform about its strategy of ensuring that quotas, rules and procedures 
for "Omanization" are predictable, transparent, co herent, and reliable and published with sufficient 
notice?  
Reply to Question 2 and 3 
The question is not relevant to any WTO prov ision. It is not relevant to Trade Policy 
Review. 
 
1.2.1 Macroeconomic indicators 
Page 10, paragraph 1.8 
 The Secretariat's report mentions that the deficit in the balance of payment in current transfers is 
mainly due to the importance of remittances by migrant workers.    
 EU questions 4 to 7: As for the vast majority of  migrant workers’ salaries are the basis for their 
remittances, could the Sultanate of Oman inform which measures and safeguards it has put in 
place in order to ensure the reliable and punctual payment of salaries to migrant workers by their 
employers? Do these measures and safeguards al so cover the particularly vulnerable group of 
migrant workers who are domestic workers? In this  context, could the Sultanate of Oman inform 
about the implementation of the provisions of the ILO Domestic Workers Convention (C189)? As 
the ability to earn a salary and to send remittances essentially depends on the physical well-being of the workers, could the Sultanate of Oman elab orate on the rules and measures in place which 
ensure health and safety at the workplace for migrant workers? 
 Reply to Question 4 and 7 
The questions do not relate to any WTO pr ovisions. These are not relevant to Trade 
Policy Review. It may be stated that Oman is abiding by its commitments on Movement 
of Natural Persons in its Schedule of  Specific Commitments on Services. 
 WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  2 TRADE POLICY REGIME: FRAMEWORK AND OBJECTIVES 
 2.4 Trade agreements and arrangements 2.4.2 Regional and bilateral agreements 
2.4.2.1 The Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) 
Page 19, paragraph 2.25   
The Secretariat's report states that the "GCC is negotiating free-trade agreements with Australia, 
China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mercosur, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Turkey". 
 
EU question 8: As the negotiations about a free-trade agreement with the European Union, 
suspended by the GCC in 2008, are not mentioned in the Report, could Oman inform about the 
state-of-play regarding that free-trade agreem ent from their point of view of view?  
 
Reply to Question 8 
 
The negotiating team has completed the stud y and has submitted its recommendation to 
the higher authorities. Decision of the higher authorities is pending. 
 
2.4.2.4 Singapore Page 19, paragraph 2.29 
 
The Secretariat's report states that "foreign investment is banned in companies with capital of RO 150,000 or less. Above this threshold, the Law allows foreign investors to own up to 49% of companies". 
 
EU question 9: Does the Sultanate of Oman consider reducing the threshold under which foreign 
investment is banned? Is the Sultanate planning to extend the list of sectors and activities in which 
foreign equity ownership of more than 49% is allowed? 
 Reply to Question 9: 
No.   2.4.2.5 Agreements not yet in force Page 20, paragraph 2.31 
 
The Secretariat's report enumerates all sectors in which "foreign investment is not allowed".  
EU question 10: Does the Sultanate of Oman consid er reducing the list of sectors and activities in 
which foreign investment is not allowed? 
 
Reply to Question 10 
No 
 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 
 
3.2.5 Import prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing 
Page 29, Table 3.5 Prohibited imports, 2014  
EU question 11: Could the Sultanate of Oman provide further information on the factual and 
scientific reasons for the prohibition of import of all infant milk? 
 
Reply to Question 11: 
Not all infant milk are prohibited, the only one prohibited is that type of milk which has a 
trade mark (GOLD SMA) and (SM with). And that prohibition was for health reasons. 
 
3.2 Measures directly affecting imports 
3.2.8 Other measures 
 WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  According to available information, recently, Om an has encouraged an “in-country value” (ICV) 
policy, favouring local components of every tender, notably in the oil and gas sector, but also recently in many other aspects of economic and private sector.  
 
EU question 12: The EU would like to ask the Omani counterpart about their medium and long 
term thoughts for ICV policy, about the legal base on which it will be based on; and for 
confirmation and explanation about the specific obligations international companies bidding for 
projects will have to face relating to the use of local components. 
 
Reply to Question 12 
The ICV is covered under the provisions of Paragraph 8(a) of Article III of the GATT 
1994. 
 
3.2.6 Import prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing 
Table 3.6 page 29  
According to available information, Oman is now promoting FDI in some specific sectors in Oman 
and it seemed that one of those was fisheries. Specifically Oman has been trying to attract FDI to Duqm where an important port and processing plant is expected.  
 
EU question 13: The EU would like Omani authoritie s to explain how, in their view, the restriction 
of importing fishing boats, and the ban/restriction on exports of various species could not 
discourage foreign investors.  
 
Reply to Question 13 
These restrictions are for environmental re asons. There are plenty of other avenues 
available to foreign investors. 
 
3.3.7 Export promotion and marketing assistance 
Page 34, paragraph 3.55 
 
The Secretariat's report states that "imports of f oodstuffs of animal origin, including milk and milk 
products, are inspected by the DGAW" and that "results are assessed against GCC and Codex 
Alimentarius standards to ensure that imported food items are safe for human consumption".  
 
EU question 14: Could Oman inform whether the "GCC Guide for Control of Imported Food" 
(notified to the WTO in 2011; document: G/SPS/N/SAU/14) has been adopted in the meantime and whether the Kingdom of Bahrain is applying the rules and procedures foreseen in its notified draft? 
 
Reply to question 14: 
The GCC Guide for Control of Imported Food has not yet been adopted. 
 
3.4.3 Government procurement    
 EU question 15: In the light of the significant public investments being made by Oman, of their 
environment policies, does Oman have a public procurement policy favouring environmentally 
friendly goods and services?  If so, are such policies publically available?  
Reply to Question 15: 
There is no procurement policy as such. Ho wever, Oman in practice does favour 
environmentally friendly goods and services.  
Page 34, Paragraph 3.63 
 The Secretariat's report states that the Tender Board "announces, processes, and awards all 
contracts over RO 1 million".  
 WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  EU question 16: Could Oman inform about po ssible planned measures to limit delays and 
bottlenecks in the processing of public procurement projects? 
 
Reply to Question 16 
There are no avoidable delays and bottlenecks. 
 
Page 34, paragraph 3.64 
 
The Secretariat's report states that "Government pr ocurement is supervised by a high-level Tender 
Board (TB), an independent authority not attached to any ministry".  
 
EU question 17: Does Oman envisage a furthe r development of the regulations governing its 
Tender Board that would ensure additional transparency of the procedures, in particular regarding 
the decisions on the exclusion of bidders and the criteria for the attribution of a project to a particular bidder in each individual tender procedure? 
 
Reply to Question 17 
Oman keeps regularly working on deve loping and improving its procedures. 
 
Page 35, paragraph 3.66 
The Secretariat's report states that in public procurement procedures "unsuccessful bidders are not 
informed".  Furthermore, bidders must reside in Oman or have a local agent named in the bid.  
 EU question 18: Is Oman planning to foresee a notification to unsuccessful bidders about the 
outcome of procurement procedures in which they took part and about the reasons for the 
rejection of their bids? 
 Reply to question 18 :  The practice is that all bidders including the unsuccessful bidders are 
made aware of the decision of the tender board on the same day.  
 EU question 19: What does the procedure foresee if  no satisfactory bid is received from bidders 
residing in Oman, or where the procuring entity is aware that a supplier not residing in Oman 
could make a more attractive offer than any of the bidders residing in Oman?  
 
Reply to Question 19 
New bids may be invited.  
Page 35, paragraph 3.67 
The report mentions the price preferences in place in Oman.  
 
EU question 20: Could Oman provide information regarding the economic impacts of the 
preference schemes mentioned in this paragraph? How many contracts are awarded to Oman and 
GCC companies on the basis of these schemes in the last three years? Could Oman quantify the 
additional expenditure? 
 Reply to question 20 :  Price preference exists only for Small & Medium Enterprises in accordance 
to the prevailing law, and this is confined only to those enterprises which conform with the 
specifications and requirements of the tenders and have the capacity to compete with other 
bidders.  
EU questions 21 to 24: With reference to the recent RD 60/2013 “Amending some provisions of 
Tender Law” the EU would like to receive the following clarifications:  
 
 whether public companies will effectively be tendering on their own (instead of tendering 
through the Tender Board), and no obligation of publishing is still specified; 
 
Reply to question 21 : The tenders for those public compan ies currently fall under the Tender 
law. As for tenders which are lower than R.O. 3 m illions, these are dealt with by internal tender 
committees. 
 WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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   whether the lower limit for a new contract to be announced, processed, and awarded by the 
TB is currently RO 3 million (instead of RO 1 Million as stated in WTO Secretariat’s report, page 35, paragraph 3.64); 
 
Reply to question 22 : Yes. 
 whether PDO, ORC and PASFR are not covered by the Tender law, since Oman is not 
considering them state-trading-enterprises (WTO Secretariat’s report, page 38, paragraph 
3.89); 
Reply to question 23 : These are not considered as state –trading –enterprises according to the 
provisions of Article XVII and they could a nnounce tenders for less than R.O. 3 Million. 
 
 Whether some measures are being planned to cope with the delayed tenders or retendered 
procedures without sending any notification to the bidders as for the extension/cancellation of the performance bond. 
 
Reply to question 24 : In line with the tender law any delayed tenders, retendered procedures, 
extension / cancellation are notified to the bidders immediately. 
 
Page 34, paragraph 3.69 
 
EU question 25: Is Oman considering full memb ership to the WTO Plurilateral Agreement on 
Government Procurement? 
 Reply to Question 25 
Oman is in the process of preparation for in itiating negotiations to accede to the GPA  
 
3.4.6 Competition policy, consumer  protection, and price controls 
Page 40, Paragraph 3.94 
 
The Secretariat's report states that "certain subsidized products, such as gas, petroleum, electricity, and water, as well as some services (e.g. telecommunications), are subject to price 
controls when sold for household use". 
 
EU question 26: Can Oman confirm that no price controls for other products, namely foodstuffs in 
general and dairy products in particular, are in place?   
Reply to Question 26 
Confirmed  Reference is made to paragraphs 3.91, 3.92 and 3.93 of the report, where is recalled that Oman does not have any competition legislation and that a Law has been proposed by the newly created 
Public Authority for Consumer Protection. It is also mentioned that sectoral agencies have the right 
to act against anti-competitive behaviour in  financial services and telecommunications. 
Furthermore, Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) is effectively controlling prices. In 
this sense a Ministerial Decision (No. 12/2011) prohibited agents from elevating price of products / 
services prior to approval by the Public Authority for Consumer Protection.  
 
EU question 27: In the light of the above, the EU would like to know if Oman is considering some 
new system for enforcement of the rights of local agents to change price in response to increases 
in the price of origin.  
Reply to Question 27 
No new system is under consideration for the time being. 
 3.4.4 Intellectual property rights  
Page 36, paragraph 3.72 
 
Oman is not part of several international treaties such as the Rome convention, the Nice agreement, the Locarno agreement, the Vienna agreement or the Strasbourg agreement.  
 WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  EU question 28: Would Oman plan on becoming a part to these treaties? 
 
Reply to Question 28 
Oman would consider becoming a party to th ose treaties which are obligatory under the 
TRIPS Agreement. 
 3.4.4.2 Patents 
Page 37, paragraph 3.73  
 As regards patents, the Oman legislation provides th at an invention is patentable if it is new and 
industrially applicable. Under Article 27 of the TR IPS Agreement, patents shall be available for any 
inventions, whether products or processes, in all fi elds of technology, provided that they are new, 
involve an inventive step and are ca pable of industrial application. 
 
EU question 29: Could Oman clarify the interpretation of their patentability conditions as regards 
with the TRIPS Agreement requirements? 
 
Reply to question 29: 
It's in conformity with article 27 of the TRIPS Agreement.   
 Page 37, paragraph 3.74  
 
As regards patents, the Oman legislation provides that a patent should be exploited at a sufficient 
industrial scale (geographical area). 
 
EU question 30: Would it be possible to clarif y the interpretation of the provision regarding 
geographical exploitation criteria? 
 
Reply to question 30 : 
The IP LAW of Oman has identified that the patent must be exploited for the past four years from the filling date or three years from the grant date. Not referring to the geographical scope of 
exploitation. 
 Page 37, paragraph 3.75  
 
Under Sultani Decree 67/2008, it is possible to grant a compulsory license for a non-exploited patented invention. 
 
EU questions 31 and 32: What are the criteria for gr anting such a compulsory license? Are they in 
compliance with Article 5(A) 4 of the Paris Conven tion which provides that compulsory licenses 
cannot be granted before the expiration of a period  of four years from the date of filing of the 
patent application or three years from the date of the grant of the patent? 
 Reply to question 31 and 32  : 
Yes, they are in compliance with article 5(a) 4 of the Paris Convention.  3.4.4.3 Copyright and related rights 
Page 37, paragraph 3.80  
 The WTO review report mentions that 986 copyright applications were granted from 2008 to 2012.  
EU questions 33 and 34: Are copyright applicatio ns compulsory to benefit from the copyright 
protection? Is this provision compatible with Article 5(2) of the Berne Convention prohibiting 
formalities? Does Oman legislation provide for limitations on liability for intermediary service 
suppliers? 
 Reply:  
 3.4.4.4 Trade marks Page 38, paragraph 3.81   
As regards to trademarks, registration is required  for the protection of well-known marks in Oman. WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  EU question 35: Is there any protection for notori ous trademarks, as provided by Article 6bis of 
the Paris Convention? 
 Reply to question 35: 
Yes.  Page 38, paragraph 3.82  
 
As regards GCC unified trademark Law, the WTO review report mentions that the law has not been ratified by Oman yet.  
EU questions 36 and 37: When does Oman plan to  ratify the GCC trademark Law? Would it imply 
any changes in the current Oman legislation? 
 
Reply to question 36 and 37: 
Work in progress.  
 
3.4.4.6 Geographical indications 
Page 38, Paragraph 3.86   The WTO review report notes that Oman has an efficient geographical indications ('GIs') protection 
system. However, it does not mention the applicatio n requirements for granting a GIs protection in 
Oman.  
EU question 38: Would it be possible to clarify the GI protection granting process in Oman?  
 
Reply to question 38: 
It's mentioned in the law which has been notified to WTO.   EU question 39: As regards medicinal products and plant production products, does Oman 
legislation on GIs provide for an administrative marketing approval process and a link with patent 
duration? 
 Reply to question 39:  
No.   4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
 
4.2 Agriculture 4.2.1 Policy objectives Page 45, paragraph 4.12 
 
The Secretariat's report states that "imports of tobacco and pork carry a tariff of 100%". The bound rate for tobacco and tobacco products is 150%.  According to available information, the GCC 
plans to increase the tariff rate for tobacco products to 200%.  
 EU question 40: Taking into account the level of its bound rates for tobacco products, could Oman 
clarify its intention on a possible change to its applied tariff?  
 
Reply to Question 40 
Oman would remain committed to its bound rates. Applied rates would not exceed the bound rates. 
 
Page 44, paragraph 4.24 (to be read also together with paragraphs 3.3 and 3.31 
 
According to this paragraph, "Oman temporarily ba nned the export of various species of fresh or 
frozen fish, including king fish and tuna, in  2012, 2013, and 2014. Furthermore, during these 
periods, the export of various other fish species,  including emperor fish and mullets, was limited to 
50% of the quantity available. In June 2008, the Government imposed a three-year moratorium 
on the harvest, sale, and export of abalone."  
 WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  EU questions 41 to 44: What is the legal basis for these export restrictions under WTO rules? It 
seems that the grounds for maintaining restrictions on exports of lobster, abalone and shark are 
related to conservation of fish resources (i.e. avoid over-exploitation). Can Oman confirm? Permission to export lobster, abalone and shark requires the exporter to be a registered Omani 
fish-trading company. This system restricts the freedom of foreign companies in the export 
process. Has Oman considered changing this requ irement? What are the reasons for restricting the 
export of other fish species such as emperor fish and mullet? 
 
Reply to Question 41 to 44 
These restrictions are for environmental reasons. There is no absolute restriction on 
export of lobster, abalone and shark. Export  is permissible by fish trading companies. 
 
4.4 Manufacturing 
Page 48, paragraph 4.53  
The Secretariat's report states that the "average MFN tariff on manufactured products […] is 5.7%, 
with tariffs ranging from zero to 100%. The hi ghest rate applies to alcoholic beverages, and 
tobacco and tobacco products, although Oman does not produce these goods".  
 
EU question 45: Can Oman clarify whether it has recently stopped its tobacco production or is 
intending to do so in the imminent future? 
 
Reply to Question 45 
 Oman is currently implementing policies to  diversify away from the production of 
tobacco. 
 
4.5.3 Communication services 
4.5.3.2 Postal services 
Page 53, paragraph 4.78 
 The report states that "Pursuant to the Postal  Services Regulatory Law (Sultani Decree No. 
71/2012), licences, issued by the TRA, are required to provide postal services."  
 EU question 46: Could Oman provide information on whether the licensing requirements apply only 
to universal services or also to express mail services, and if the latter is the case, on what 
conditions licences can be granted? 
 Reply to reply 46 : 
Postal Service Regulatory Law issued by decision No. 71/2012 and its Executive Regulation 
clarified the procedures for granting licenses for th e provision of Postal Services including Express 
Mail Services. The licensing requirements are as follows:  
1-Copy of valid Commercial Registrati on Certificate and Computer Papers 
2- Proof of payment of the application fee 500 OMR 3- Trademark Registration Certificate or proof of the right to use the same by the applicant as a 
trademark for his postal business 
4- Copy of the list of authorized sign atories, and their specimen signatures 
5- A letter of authority from the company which authorizes the applicant to act on behalf of the 
company before the Authority 
6-Bank guarantee OR (5,000)  
7- Documents and agreements that ensure the   signatory parties transfer the postal items to and 
from the Sultanate 
 
4.5.5 Tourism Page 55, paragraph 4.94 
With reference to the licensing requirements applicable to numerous activities in the tourism 
sector:   
EU question 47: Can Oman give more details on the licencing regime for the tourism providers? Is 
there any discriminatory requirement, such as nationality or residency?   WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  Reply to question 47: 
All information and data can be easily obtained through the website of the Ministry of Tourism 
(www.omantourism.gov.om)  
There are not any discriminatory requirements on the licensing regime for the tourism providers. 
 Questions not linked to a specific section of the Secretariat report. 
 
Visa and labour clearance concession for foreign workers. The EU is aware that in the last months no la bour clearance has apparently been admitted for 
female engineers. 
 
EU question 48: the EU would like to ask the Omani authorities additional clarifications about 
labour clearances for female engineers.   
Reply to EU Question 48: 
The question in its present form is not releva nt to any WTO provision. It is not relevant 
to Trade Policy Review. 
 
WT/TPR/G/295 – WTO Government's Report Oman  
 4.4 Service, banking and financial, telecom and tourism 
Page 9, paragraph 4.16 
 The paragraph gives an overview of the telecommunications sector. 
 
EU question 49: Can Oman provide more information on the existence of foreign equity caps in the 
telecommunication sector? 
 
Reply to EU Question 49: 
 There are no sector specific limits set for FDI/equity investment in the telecommunications; the 
overall investment guidelines of the government contained in the Foreign Direct Investment Law 
(if any), would also apply to the telecommunications sector.  WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  QUESTIONS FROM HONG KONG, CHINA 
 PART I: QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SECRETARIAT REPORT  
4.  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR 
 
OMAN 
 Page 50 (para. 4.58) 
 Services  
 
Some services sectors such as Air Transport Services, and Postal Services, were under the 
monopolies or exclusive rights of state-owned co mpanies.  Some state-owned companies had been 
repeatedly proposed for privatization. 
 Question: 
 
1. Does the Oman Government have any plan to further liberalize the services sectors by 
eliminating the domination of state-owned comp anies or reducing the shareholding of the 
state in these companies? 
 
Reply 1: 
Oman is in the process of studying furthe r privatization of state-owned enterprises. 
Please refer to H.E. the Undersecretary ’s opening statement in this regard.  
 
Page 52 (para. 4.75) 
 Telecommunications  
 Pursuant to Articles 38 and 39 of the Telecom Law, the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority 
(TRA) is to float an open tender for licensing universal services requirements, with subsidies for 
the incumbent to be financed by the Treasury. If  there are no bidders, Oman Telecommunication 
Company (Omantel), in which the State holds a 70% share, will provide the services and have the 
right to receive subsidies from the Treasury. 
 Question: 
 
2. We would be grateful for the latest update on   the open tender.  Did the Oman authorities 
refer to any international practices in formulating the requirements and terms in the tender?  Does the Telecom Law have any provisions that prescribe the use of the subsidies to be 
financed by the Treasury?  If so, is ther e any mechanism to monitor the use of these 
subsidies?   Are there legal provisions and monitoring mechanism equally apply to Omantel, if there are no bidders and Omantel would provide the services? 
 
Replies 2:  
 
- There were no acceptable bids passed the tendering process.  Then TRA decided to 
approach Omantel, however, when Omantel submitted their bid, Omantel bid was too 
expensive and over the allocated budget.  Th erefore, the TRA decided to cancel the USO 
pilot project. 
- The TRA has assigned PWC to formulate and prepare the tender document, which 
was based on international practices 
- On the other hand, the TRA has started a joint initiative with operators (Omantel 
and Nawras) as part of the spectrum refarm ing agreement where in exchange for some 
additional frequency bands both operators have agreed to install 100 BTS sites each per operators.  This initiative will provide mobile service coverage for approximately 250 
remote/rural villages across Oman. 
- The TRA has assigned PWC to formulate and prepare the tender document, which 
was based on international practices. 
- Yes, Article 39 of the Act states that. 
- The requirements were stated in the tender document which requires the operator WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 17 - 
 
  to separator USO subsidies through accounting separation. 
 Page 55 (paras. 4.91 & 4.92) 
 
Air Transport 
 Airport handling facilities, airline catering and other services are under the exclusive rights of 
Oman Aviation Services (OAS), a subsidiary of a national carrier Oman Air.  OAS pays concession 
fee to the state-owned Oman Airport Management Company (OAMC).  The Oman Government is currently exploring the possibility of introducing an open-skies policy and allowing private investment in a number of services related to air transport. 
 
Question: 
 
3. What is the latest development of this initiative?  What kinds of services have been 
considered to be opened to private investment?  What factors have been considered by the Government when deciding whether to allow pr ivate investment? Are there any further details 
of the liberalisation plan, such as the percentage of foreign equity, selection process and 
criteria for the private investment, etc? 
 
Reply : 
The concerned authority (Public Authority Fo r Civil Aviation-PACA)  is in the process 
of issuing an AOC to private airline op erator. PACA with the assistance of 
professional consultant is currently bu sy setting up the necessary legal and 
economic regulations including selection cr iteria and process to allow the private 
sector participation. Initially this will be  focused to allow the setup of a low cost 
carrier, other services will follow (Helicopte r operation, cargo, private, seaplane 
etc). Factors taken into consideration are the market demand, encouragement of 
competition, encouragement of private sect or participation in the development of 
the sector.  
 WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  QUESTIONS FROM INDIA 
 
Part I:  QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SECRETARIAT REPORT  
Page 34 (Para 3.56) 
Item: 3.5 Sanitary and phytosanitary measures 
Oman has made 21 SPS notifications since Ja nuary 2008, of which six concern emergency 
measures. All SPS measures are published in the O fficial Gazette and the website of the Ministry 
of Commerce and Industry 
Question 1 
Oman is requested to re-check this statistical information. 
Reply 1: 
Will do the needful.  
Page51 (Para 4.69) 
The authorities indicate that a draft law on Islamic Insurance is under preparation. 
 
Question  2 
Oman is requested to inform when this law is expected to come into force and what are its salient 
features? 
 Reply 2: 
The draft law is under preparation. Its timing  and salient features are not yet available.  
 Page 52 (Para 4.75) 
Under Article 38 and 39 of the Telecom Law, the TRA is to float an open tender for licensing 
universal services requirements, as set up by the MTC, with subsidies for the incumbent to be 
financed by the Treasury.  
Question 3 
Oman is requested to inform how much subsidies are available and whether these are available to 
only domestic players or to foreign players as well? 
 
Reply 3: 
Subsidies would be available to both dome stic and foreign service providers. The 
quantum of subsidies is not pre-determined. 
 
Page 55 (Para 4.92) 
The government is currently exploring the possibi lity of introducing an open skies policy and 
allowing private investment in a number of services related to air transport. 
 Question 4 
Oman is requested to provide the details of services in which it is planning to allow private investment and whether private investment also includes foreign investment   Reply 4:  
Initially the introduction of private owne d low cost carrier, then other services: 
helicopter operation, private, seaplane, flig ht academy….etc. Foreign investment would 
be subject to existing laws and existing Omani Commitments, particularly 49% limit on 
foreign equity. 
 WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  QUESTIONS FROM JAPAN 
 Reports by Oman (WT/TPR/G/295) 3 TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENTS 
3.7 Trade-related intellectual property rights (TRIPS) 
(Question1: Page 8, Paragraphs 3.22-3.24) [Royal Oman police] 
 
1. Please provide each year's number of seizures or arrests by Royal Oman Police based on infringements of intellectual property rights includ ing trademark (“IPRs”) for the past 3 years. If it 
has seized the products infringing Japanese companies’ IPRs, please provide the number of the 
cases. 
 2. How many days does it take, on average, for the Royal Oman Police to seize counterfeit 
products or arrest infringers? (e.g., average numbe r of days from the acceptance of IPR holder's 
request for seizures or arrests until seizures or arrests)  
3. What kinds of actions can IPR holders take if infringement products aren't seized or infringers 
aren’t arrested (e.g., filing  of written opposition)? 
 Reply: The required informatio n will be provided later on. 
 
[Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCIC)] (In the case it has the authority to  implement administrative actions) 
 
1. Please provide each year's number of seizures or any other administrative punishments by OCIC based on infringements of IPRs for the past 3 years with respect to each punishment. If it has 
seized or imposed administrative punishments with respect to the products infringing Japanese 
companies’ IPRs, please provide the number of the cases.  2. How many days does it take, on average, for OCIC to impose an administrative punishment 
against counterfeit products? (e.g., average days from the acceptance of IPR holder's request for 
imposition until imposition)  
3. What kinds of actions can IPR holders take if administrative punishments aren’t imposed (e.g., 
filing of written opposition)? (In the case it doesn’t have the authority to implement administrative actions) 
 
4. Are there any cases of OCIC taking action agai nst products infringing IPRs or an infringer? 
 5. If any, based on what authority and what is OCIC entitled to do? 
 
6. And, in the case that the answer to question 4 is “yes”, please answer questions corresponding 
to the above questions listed as 1 through 3. 
 
Reply: OCIC doesn't have the authority to implement administrative actions. 
And it's not responsible for taking action agai nst product infringing IP Rs or an infringer. 
 
[The Public Authority fo r Consumer Protection] 
(In the case that it has the authority to implement administrative actions)  
1. Please provide each year's number of seizures or any other administrative punishments by the 
Public Authority for Consumer Protection based on infringements of IPRs over the past 3 years with respect to each punishment. If it has seiz ed or imposed administrative punishments with 
respect to the products infringing Japanese comp anies’ IPRs, please provide the number of cases. 
 2. How many days does it take, on average, for the Public Authority for Consumer Protection to 
impose an administrative punishment against co unterfeit products? (e.g., average days from the 
acceptance of IPR holder's request for imposition until the imposition)  3. What kinds of actions can IPR holders take if administrative punishments aren’t imposed (e.g., 
filing of written opposition)? WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 20 - 
 
  (In the case it doesn’t have the authority to implement administrative actions) 
 4. Are there any cases of the Public Authority for Consumer Protection taking action against 
products infringing IPRs or an infringer? 
 
Reply: No.  
5. If any, based on what authority and what is  the Public Authority for Consumer Protection 
entitled to do?  Reply: coordination with Ministry of Co mmerce & Industry and Public prosecution. 
 
6. And, in the case that the answer to question 4 is “yes”, please answer questions corresponding 
to the above questions listed as 1 through 3. 
 
(Question2: Page 8, Paragraph 3.22) Please provide the time schedule for th e establishment of the administrative 
enforcement team of IPR in the Minist ry of Commerce and Industry of Oman. 
 Reply: IPR enforcement responsible by Ministry of Commerce & Industry and the Public 
Authority for Consumer Protection and Public  prosecution and they working together on 
Enforcement of IPR.  
(Question3: Page 8, Paragraph 3.22) 
According to the report by Oman, Oman has IP laws providing for enforcement of IPR equal to or even surpassing the standards and requirements of the TRIPS Agreement.  
Please provide statistical data on confiscation  of IPR infringing goods in the market and 
customs of recent years including the number of cases, types of infringed IPRs and the 
types of punishment imposed on the infringers.  
Reply: 
According to the Secretariat’s Report, “IPR infringements and violations are subject to 
fines (up to RO 10,000) or imprisonment (u p to three years).  Civil remedies are 
available in all cases of infringement.  The Public Prosecution Offi ce may initiate legal 
action ex officio with respect to IPR-rela ted offences, without the need for a formal 
complaint by a private party or right holder.” 
 
Report by the Secretariat (WT/TPR/S/295)  2 TRADE POLICY REGIME: FRAMEWORK AND OBJECTIVES 
2.1 Institutional framework 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 3.4 Measures affecting production and trade 
3.4.2 Standards and other technical requirements 
3.4.2.1 Standards, metrology,  testing, and certification 
 
(Question4: Page 15, Paragraph 2. 6 and Page 33, Paragraph3.49) 
Is Royal (Sultani) Decree or technical regula tion actually publis hed by the Official 
Gazette in Oman? How about Ministerial Decision or  other Ministerial ordinances? 
 
Reply: Sultani decrees & Ministerial decisions which include technical regulation are published 
in official gazette. 
 2 TRADE POLICY REGIME: FRAMEWORK AND OBJECTIVES 
2.4 Trade Agreements and Arrangements 
2.4.2 Regional and bilateral agreements 2.4.2.5 Agreements not yet in force  
 WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  (Question5: Page 20, Paragraph 2.25) 
 The GCC reportedly decided to resume FTA ne gotiations. What are the contents of the 
decision? What is Oman’s reaction to th e decision? How will the GCC implement the 
decision? What role will Oman  play in its implementation? 
 Reply: 
The negotiating team has completed the stud y and has submitted its recommendation to 
the higher authorities. Decision of the higher authorities is pending. WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  QUESTION FROM MALAYSIA 
 Oman Secretariat Report  
3.26. Food, plant and animal imports that are restricted for health reasons must be accompanied 
by sanitary and/or phytosanitary certificates from  the exporting country. Imports of food products 
must be accompanied by a certificate declaring th em to be free of radiation and dioxin (section 
(SPS) below). In addition, pharmaceutical products must be imported directly from manufactures 
with research departments, and the products must be licensed in the country of manufacture and in at least two GCC countries other than Oman, one of which must be the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 
 
QUESTIONS: 
 
Could Oman please clarifies the following: 
 1. Requirement on Sanitary and/or Phyto-sanitary Certificate- 
 
i) What type of Sanitary and/or Ph yto-sanitary Certificate required? 
 Reply: 1.Veterinary Health Certificates 
2. Phytosanitary Certificate 
 
ii) What type of food and food products require Sanitary and/or Phytosanitary Certificate? 
 
Reply : 1.For food and food products of animal origin . 
2.Plants and Plant Products according to FAO-IPPC definitions (ISPM No. 5) 
 
iii) When is the enforcement date of this requirement? 
 Reply: 2004 
 
iv) What are the relevant law and standards pertaining to this requirement? 
 
Reply:  1. Plant Quarantine Law 47/2004 
2. Animal Quarantine Law 45/2004   
 
2. Requirement on certificate declaring food and food products to be free of radiation and 
dioxin- 
 
i) When is the enforcement date of this requirement? 
 
Reply: since 2000 
 
3. Please provide address to a web link on relevant law and standards pertaining to 
requirement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary for imports of food, plants and animal products. 
 
Reply: Hard copy available only.  
4. Please clarify the requirement for pharmaceutical product to be licensed in at least two GCC 
countries of which one must be the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia before it can enter the Oman 
market? 
 
Reply: 
There is no such requirement for pharmaceutical products in Oman. A certificate is required that the product is being marketed in origin country. All the requirements available on the website of 
Ministry of Health.  WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  QUESTIONS FROM MEXICO 
 REPORT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF OMAN  (WT/TPR/G/295) 
3 TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENTS  
3.2 Tariffs  
Page 6, paragraph 3.7  
At paragraph 3.7, Oman says that: “[b]ound tariffs for non-agricultural products range from 0 to 
25 percent. However, for more than 97 percent of non-agricultural products, these are 15 percent 
or less.”   
Mexico question 9: What are the goods or non-agricultural products which bound tariffs ranging 
from 15% to 25%?  
 
Reply to question 9: 
Please check Oman’s Schedule of co ncessions and commitments on tariffs  
 
REPORT BY THE SECRETARIAT FOR THE SECOND POLICY REVIEW OF OMAN 
(WT/TPR/S/295) SUMMARY  Trade policy instruments and practices 
Page 7, paragraph 10. This question is also related to paragraphs 3.48 to 3.50 of the Report by 
the Secretariat of the WTO.  
Paragraph 10 of the Report by the Secretariat mentions that: “Oman has been increasingly 
harmonizing its technical regulations and standards at the GCC level; only 12 of more than 10,000 standards are purely national. GCC and Omani standards are usually based on international 
standards.” 
 Mexico question 10:  Could you please mention which of those standards and technical 
regulations are applicable to carbon electrodes, of a kind used for furnaces, for electrical purposes; 
to vehicles for transportation of goods, and to  vehicles for the transportation of persons? 
 Reply to question 10:  
1- GSO 1472:2002 ' Dry primary batteries '  
2- GSO 1473:2002   "Terminals for dry primary batteries and their methods of test". 
3- GSO 1962:2009     "  Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-6: Particular 
requirements for stationary cooking ranges, hobs, ovens and similar appliances" 
 3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 3.3 Measures directly affecting exports 
3.3.3 Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing 
Page 30, paragraph 3.31 and footnote 13  
In paragraph 3.31 of the Report by the Secretariat of the WTO it is explained that Oman restricts 
exports of lobsters, abalones, and sharks during the breeding and reproduction seasons. However, at footnote 13, it mentions that Oman allows exports of these species during the restricted period 
through permission by the Ministry of Fisheries, provided the exporter is a registered Omani fish-
trading company, and holds a licence from the competent authority.  Mexico question 11:  Do the permissions granted by the co mpetent authority impose the Oman’s 
traders, with the aim to allow them to fish lobsters, abalones and sharks during the restricted 
period, some requirement or limitation in order to conserve or to reproduce such species?  
Reply to question 11: 
These restrictions are for environmental reasons. 
 
Mexico question 12: In case that answer to question 12 is affirmative, which are those 
requirements and/or limitations? 
 Reply to question 12: 
Please refer to the previous reply. WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 24 - 
 
  3.4 Measures affecting production and trade 
3.4.4.6 Geographical indications Page 40, paragraph 3.93  
The Secretariat mentions in paragraph 3.93 of its report that: “ Oman's industrial property 
legislation also contains provisions on confusing or fraudulent use of trademarks and geographical 
indications, and on misleading information on products or their production process.”  
 
Mexico question 13:  What are and how do the provisions work regarding confusing or fraudulent 
use of trademarks and geographical indications, and on misleading information on products or 
their production process set out by the legislation of Oman? 
 
Reply to question 13: Provisions that relate to this question of the law of industrial 
property rights Omani No. 67/2008 are as follows: 
 
Section 39 
 
(1)  The owner of a registered mark shall ha ve the exclusive right to prevent all third 
parties not having the owner’s consent from using in the course of trade identical or 
similar signs, including trade names and geogra phical indications, for goods or services 
related to those in respect of which the mark  is registered, where such use would result 
in a likelihood of confusion, without prejudic e to the provisions of Subsections (3), (4) 
and (5).  The provisions of Section 37(8) shall apply.  
(2)  In accordance with Title IV, the owner of a registered ma rk shall, in addition to any 
other rights, remedies or actions available to him, have the right to institute court 
proceedings against any person who infringes the mark by using, without his consent, 
the mark as aforesaid or who performs acts which make it likely that infringement will 
occur.  (3)  The rights conferred by registration of a mark shall not extend to acts in respect of 
articles which have been put on the market in  Oman by the registered owner or with his 
consent, and therefore shall be exhausted.  
Section 56 
 The Court shall,  ex officio  or at the request of an interested party, refuse or invalidate 
the registration of a trademark which contains  or consists of a geographical indication 
with respect to goods not originating in the territory indicated, if use of the indication in the trademark for such goods in Oman is of such a nature as to mislead the public as to the true place of origin. 
 
Section 57 
 
The registration of a trademark for goods wh ich contains or consists of a rgistered 
geographical indication shall be refused or invalidated by the Registrar or the Court, ex 
officio  or at the request of an interested part y, with respect to such goods not having 
this origin. 
 
Section 67 
 
(1)  Subject to Section 40(3), an infringeme nt of a registered mark, or a registered 
collective mark, or a registered certification ma rk, or of a trade name shall consist of the 
performance of any act referred to in Sectio ns 40(1) and 46 in Oman by a person other 
than the owner of the mark or of the trade name and without the agreement of the 
latter.  
(2)  An infringement of a well-known mark sh all consist of the use of a sign identical 
with or confusingly similar to the well-known mark, whether registered in Oman or not, 
without the agreement of the owner of the well-known mark provided that the sign is used: 
 WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 25 - 
 
  (i) in relation to goods or services identical with or similar to the goods or services for 
which the well-known mark has been registered, or  (ii) in relation to goods or services which are not identical with or similar to those in 
respect of the well-known mark provided that the use of the sign in relation to those 
goods or services would indicate a connectio n between those goods or services and the 
owner of the well-known mark and that the interests of the owner of the well-known 
mark are likely to be damaged by such use. 
 (3) On the request of the owner of a register ed mark or of a well-known mark, even if 
unregistered, or of an exclusive licensee, or of a non-exclusive licensee if he has 
requested the owner of the mark to institut e court proceedings for a specific relief and 
the owner of the mark has refused or failed to do so within ninety-days, the Court may 
grant an injunction to prevent infringeme nt, or an imminent infringement, award 
damages and grant any other remedy provided fo r in the general law or under this Title. 
 The Court may also, on the request of any co mpetent authority or any interested person, 
group association or syndicate, including prod ucers, manufacturers or traders, grant the 
same relief where it is satisfied that an act of infringement referred to in Section 40 has 
been committed or is imminent.  
Section 93 
 (1) The Court shall have the authority to apply remedies that include sentences of 
imprisonment from a minimum of three (3) months up to a maximum of 2 (two) years 
as well as monetary fines from a minimum of  2,000 up to a maximum of 10,000 Riyals. 
In case of reincidence, the Court shall have  the authority to double those remedies. In 
determining the remedies, the Court shall take into account that those remedies must be 
sufficient to provide a deterrent to future infringements, consistent with a policy of 
removing the infringer’ s monetary incentive; 
 
(2) fine or imprison, in appropriate cases, a party to a litigation who fails to abide by 
valid orders issued by such authorities; and  
 
(3) impose sanctions on parties to a litigati on, their counsel, experts, or other persons 
subject to the court’s jurisdiction, for vi olation of judicial orders regarding the 
protection of confidential information produced or exchanged in a proceeding 
 WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 26 - 
 
  QUESTIONS FROM PAKISTAN 
 1. Regarding Oman, the Secretariat Report notes that about 15% of the labour force are 
unemployed – that is a relatively high figure (e .g. 3.9% for Bahrain) for a high income country 
notwithstanding the Omanisation initiative. What steps Oman is envisaging to reduce the 
unemployment rate?  
Reply 1: 
According to paragraph 1.4 of the Secretariat report, the 15% is an unconfirmed figure. 
H o w e v e r ,  i t  m a y  b e  v i e w e d  i n  t h e  l i g h t  o f  t h e  f a c t  t h a t  4 5 % o f  O m a n ’ s  p o p u l a t i o n  i s  expatriates and that the number of ex patriates doubled from 2010 to 2013. 
 
2. Oman’s  eighth five-year development plan (2011-2015), issued under Sultani Decree No. 
1/2011, plans for the continuation of the producti on and export diversification exercise with the 
private sector taking a larger role. What success has been achieved with regard to the private 
sector taking the lead role?    
Reply 2: 
The role of private sector in the nation al economy is sought to be increased by 
stimulating domestic and foreign private inve stment. This is done through development 
of infrastructure and manufacturing base, by  development of agriculture and fisheries 
and by development of software and touris m industries among others. The success of 
this can be gauged from the fact th at between 2010 and 2012, the GDP from 
manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, hotels and restaurants, Transport and 
communications, real estate and business acti vities (areas in which private sector is 
involved) increased by 22%, 12%, 14%, 12%, and 7% respectively.  
3. In Oman, a new five-year plan (2016-2020) as well as a new Long-term Development 
Strategy (Vision 2040) is under preparation. By what time these plans are expected to be launched? Can Oman share any contours developed so far?    
Reply 3: 
The new Five Year Development Plan (2016-2020) and the Long Term Development 
Strategy (Vision 2040) would be launched well before 2016. The Plan and strategy are 
in the process and details not yet finalized. 
 4. The Secretariat Report informs that Oman's legislation on foreign investment is currently 
under revision. Could Oman please inform about the broad scope and schedule of the proposed 
revised legislation?    Reply 4: 
It is premature to give details as  of now. Work is in process.  
 5. The Government of Oman continues to have a strong influence on the economy, mainly 
through the many state-owned companies. Privatization has basically come to a halt since Oman's 
last TPR. Are there any plans to revive privatisatio n efforts and to reduce the size of government?   
 
Reply 5: 
The Government seeks to approach privatizat ion in a meaningful and structured manner 
taking into consideration all relevant factor s, internal and extern al. After the successful 
privatization of 30% stake in Omantel (a  leading telecom provider) in 2005, the 
Government was keen to proceed with furt her privatization but was hindered by the 
global financial crisis. With improvement in the investment climate, the Government has 
revived the privatization process with a view  to achieving a further 19% divestment in 
Omantel. 
 A number of state-owned entities have b een identified for privatization and a 
Privatization Committee has alre ady been tasked with the mandate to comprehensively 
study all aspects of privatization including detailed implementation plan and process, 
which would be announced in due course.  WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 27 - 
 
  6. The Secretariat Report notes that the Government's long-term objective is to increase the 
GDP shares of agriculture to over 3% and of fish eries to 2%. How does Oman aim to achieve this? 
 Reply 6: 
By making larger budgetary allocations to  agriculture and fisheries. However, the 
Government would not resort to the use of subsidies.  
7. In Oman, public tender is the main meth od for procurement of goods and services. 
For specific circumstances, there are four other methods: (1) restricted tender, (2) direct award; (3) the concept of Mumarasa ; and (4) the new concept of Musabakah . Further, the principle 
behind a Mumarasa is that of a negotiated contract, which is allowed in special circumstances. 
Under the principle of Musabakah , the procuring entity will ask bidders, through a public 
announcement or a direct invitation, to submit their studies or designs, and choose a winner from the pool of entries. Unlike the direct award, co ntracts of any value can be procured through a 
Musabakah . Could Oman explain how the principles of lowest bid or highest quality are ensured 
through these processes?   
Reply: Principle of highest quality is considered in all methods of public tender. It is not always 
necessary to take the lowest bid.  WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  QUESTIONS FROM REPUBLIC OF KOREA 
 PART I: Questions Regarding the Secretariat Report 
 
Page 9 (Para1.5) 
 
Oman’s main economic and social challenge is to create employment opportunities for local 
workers, through the “Omanization” policy. Omanis make up only about 14% of the workforce in 
the private sector. A large share of Omanis work either for government or state-owned enterprises. The Omanization initiative, a quota system that mandates employing specified percentages of Omani citizens, has been in operation since 1988 and is a high priority for the 
Government. The Ministry of Manpower has stipulated a fixed Omanization ratio in six areas of the 
private sector.   
Question 1 
 
Korea understands Oman’s concern over the low em ployment rate of local workers. However, the 
Omanization initiative has been a source of difficulty for foreign investors in Oman. In this sense, 
Korea would like to know if Oman has any plan to reduce the burden for the foreign investors regarding their employment decisions.   
Reply: 
Oman implements the Omanization policy in  a pragmatic manner remaining well within 
its obligations under the WTO rules. 
 
Page 31 (Para 3.37) 
 
According to the authorities, no distinction is made between locally and foreign-owned companies 
in respect of access to the free zones or bonded warehouses. The relevant customs duties must be paid on sales of products from the free zones on the GCC market (including Oman). Up to 30% of free-zone production may be sold on the domestic market, i.e. at least 70% must be exported. 
Consolidated figures on production, employment or exports of Oman’s free zones are not available.  
 Question 2 
 Could Oman please elaborate on the export quota it  has applied to the production in the free zone 
regarding the penalty for failure to meet the minimum export proportion requirement? Could 
Oman also explain how this can be compatible with the Agreement on Subsidies and 
Countervailing Measures?  Reply: 
To our understanding there is no decision, de claration or agreed interpretation on the 
application of the provisions of ASCM to Free Zones.  
Page 39 (Para 3.90) 
 
Some of Oman’s fully or partly state-owned enterprises enjoy certain exclusive rights. Since 
Oman’s last TPR in 2008, the privatization process has come to a virtual standstill. The authorities 
indicate that this is partly due to the global financial crisis in and that, as part of plans to revitalize privatization, a 19% share of Omantel should be sold to private investors.   
Question 3 
 
Although it is indicated in the long term economic plan of Oman that Oman is encouraging private 
sector participation, it seems that the state continues to play a dominant role in Oman’s economy, 
and that change has been slow in this regard. Could Oman please elaborate on what it is planning to include in the new five-year plan (2011-2 015) regarding revitalizing privatization?  
 
Reply 3: 
The Government seeks to approach privatizat ion in a meaningful and structured manner 
taking into consideration all relevant factor s, internal and extern al. After the successful 
privatization of 30% stake in Omantel (a  leading telecom provider) in 2005, the WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 29 - 
 
  Government was keen to proceed with furt her privatization but was hindered by the 
global financial crisis. With improvement in the investment climate, the Government has 
revived the privatization process with a view  to achieving a further 19% divestment in 
Omantel. 
 
A number of state-owned entities have b een identified for privatization and a 
Privatization Committee has alre ady been tasked with the mandate to comprehensively 
study all aspects of privatization including detailed implementation plan and process, 
which would be announced in due course. WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 30 - 
 
  QUESTIONS FROM SINGAPORE 
 PART I:  QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SECRETARIAT REPORT 2 TRADE POLICY REGIME: FRAMEWORK AND OBJECTIVES 
 
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) 
 
Page 19 (Para 2.19) 
 
1. We would like to understand the GCC customs union’s treatment of imports that qualify for tariff concessions under the Oman-US FTA.  
 
Assuming that a US-originating product qualifie s for tariff concessions under the Oman-US FTA and 
thus enters Oman at a duty-free rate, would this  US-originating product be allowed to circulate 
free of duty across the customs union thereaft er (for example, imported into Oman and 
subsequently sent to Qatar)?  
Reply 
No. The Common External Tariff (CET) rate would apply in such a case. WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  QUESTIONS FROM THAILAND 
 QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SECRETARIAT REPORT  
3. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURES 
 
Page 22 (paragraph 3.2) 
 “The documentation for all imported products must be authenticated by the Consulate of Oman or representative, or any Arab Embassy in the country of origin.”  
Question 1:  Could Oman please advise how long it would take to complete the document 
authenticating process? 
 
Reply to question 1: 
The same day if all documents are complete.  
 
Question 2:  Thailand is interested in learning whether Oman intends to simplify this process in the 
near future? 
 Reply to question 2: 
No  Page 34 (paragraph 3.61) 
 “All precious metals, jewellery, and gemstones, whether imported or locally produced, must be hallmarked under Sultani Decree 109/2000. The gold hallmarking scheme is operated by the 
DGSM's precious metal assaying laboratory. 
 Question 3:  Could Oman please advise on the policy rationale behind this scheme, and provide 
more information about the detail of the Sultani Decree 109/2000?  
 
Reply to question 3: 
The scheme is designed to protect the interests of consumers / buyers in respect of fake or sub-
standard jewellery.  WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 32 - 
 
  QUESTIONS FROM TURKEY 
 QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SECRETARIAT REPORT 
 
Para 8: 
“Under the Foreign Capital Investment Law, all foreign investments require approval by the 
Ministry of Commerce and Industry . Foreign investment in companies with capital of RO 
150,000 or less is banned . Above this threshold, foreign investors may own up to 49% of 
companies . In practice, this share may be increased to 70% and to 100% in the free zones. 
Subject to approval by the Cabinet , foreign ownership of 100% may be accepted in projects 
with total capital exceeding RO 500,000 . A number of services are excluded from foreign 
investment . Since land ownership by foreigners is generally prohibited, long-term and project-
based lease of land is the preferred solution of most foreign investors. …”  
Does the Government of Oman have any future plans in order to ease or eliminate the rules with 
regard to the share of foreigners in companies?   
Reply: 
No 
 Para 2.19: 
As it is known, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have operated a common external tariff (CET) since January 2003, with the establishment of the GCC Customs Union.  
On the other hand, two member countries have separate individual FTAs with USA: Bahrain since 
2006 and Oman since 2009.  
In this regard, we would be pleased to get your comments on how you can manage the 
implementation of the FTA along with the customs union established with other GCC countries? What measures do you have in place to prevent trade divergence?  
Reply: 
Movement of goods, imported duty free from  the US, to other GCC countries are subject 
to Common External Tariff of the GCC. 
 
Para 2.25: 
It is reported that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has suspended ongoing negotiationson Free 
Trade Agreements (FTA) with all of the countries and announced that it would decide to resume 
the negotiations after the feasibility studies have been completed.   Taking into consideration that it has been more than 4 years since the suspension, we would be 
pleased to get information about the state of play of feasibility studies? If the work is already 
concluded, what are the outcomes of the studies; will the GCC continue to pursue conclusion of 
FTAs around the globe? 
 
Reply: 
The negotiating team has completed the stud y and has submitted its recommendation to 
the higher authorities. Decision of the higher authorities is pending. 
 Para 2.31 
“Foreign investment is not allowed in real es tate brokerage services; employment placement 
services; investigation and security services; tourist guide services; internal waterway 
transportation services; taxi transportation services; and small businesses, such as electric and electronic household appliances maintenance and repair, barbering, tailoring, laundry, ladies 
hairdressing, driving instruction services, typing, translation, small auto repair, calligraphy, 
photocopying, printing and publishing (includi ng newspapers and magazines), Hajj and Omra 
services, and upholstery services. …” 
 
D o e s  t h e  G o v e r n m e n t  o f  O m a n  h a v e  a n y  p l a n s  i n  o r d e r  t o  r e d u c e  t h e  n u m b e r  o f  p r o h i b i t e d  services stated above for foreigners?  WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 33 - 
 
  Reply: 
Oman has made commitments on some 95 sub-sect ors of services. It is only a few minor 
sub-sectors which are prohibited to safegu ard the interests of small Omani service 
providers. 
 
Paragraph 3.2 
 
The documentation for all imported products must be authenticated by the consulate of Oman  or 
representative, or any Arab Embassy in the country of origin.   Could Omani Government kindly explain how long does the authentication process take? 
 
Reply: 
Same day if all documents are complete. 
 
QUESTIONS REGARDING GOVERNMENT REPORT 
 
Paragraph 3.16. 
 
Oman does not apply any export duties. However, it reserves the right to apply export duties, as permissible under WTO rules, if and when it deemed necessary.  
 
Under which conditions does Omani Government  deem necessary to apply export duties? 
 
Reply: 
Considering the market and business situatio n. However, since its accession in 2000, 
Oman has not applied any export duties. 
 
Paragraph 3.19 
 Oman does provide domestic subsidies to industries in the form of soft loans by Oman 
Development Bank. However, these are non-specific, available to all industries and to all 
enterprises.  
Can Omani Government kindly present examples of soft loans provided by Oman Development 
Bank?  
Reply: 
Loans needed for establishment of new indu stries, for balancing and modernization of 
existing industries, for expansion of capacity etc.  
Para. 4.2 
As stated in the Government Report, “The main target of Oman’s agriculture sector is to achieve 
food security. Because of that it does not gran t any export subsidies. And, Oman has made a 
commitment not to grant export subsidies.” 
 Could Oman please provide further information on the strategy that is being applied to ensure food 
security? 
 Reply: 
By higher budgetary allocations for develo pment of agriculture and infrastructure 
related to agriculture. 
 Para. 4.58 
Several state-owned companies continue to dominate services activities although some had been repeatedly proposed for privatization. Could the Government of Oman explain whether there is a 
schedule for those privatization plans in each sector? 
 
Reply: 
A number of state-owned entities have b een identified for privatization and a 
Privatization Committee has alre ady been tasked with the mandate to comprehensively WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 34 - 
 
  study all aspects of privatization includin g detailed implementation plan and process,  
which would be announced in due course.  
 Other questions 
 Sponsorship system and requirement for local citizen employment (Omanization) policies are main hurdles encountered by foreign investors and exporters in many Gulf countries including Oman. 
Does Sultanate of Oman plan to ease or lift thes e restrictions which are contrary to WTO principles 
and if so do you envisage a time frame for this?  Reply: 
According to our reading of WTO rules, these practices are not against any WTO 
provisions. As for Movement of Natural Persons, Oman strictly address to its 
commitments under its Schedule of Specific Commitments on Services. 
 
Approval of export related and other documents by Local Diplomatic Missions is a time wasting bureaucratic procedure and is creating difficul ty for free trade among WTO member states. Does 
Sultanate of Oman consider to abolish such approval requirements in a foreseeable future? 
 Reply: 
No. WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 35 - 
 
  QUESTIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES 
 PART I:  QUESTIONS ON THE SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/295) 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 
3.2 Measures Directly Affecting Imports 
3.2.1 Procedures 3.2.6 Import Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Licensing 
Page 27, paragraphs 3.24- 3.26:  According to the Secretariat’s report, Oman claims not to 
maintain import license procedures. In light of this statement, please describe Oman’s 
administrative procedures for restricting and prohibiting the imports of products identified in the referenced paragraphs. For example:  
 
a)  Is Oman using import licenses, certificates, permits, etc. to verify compliance with SPS 
requirements? 
 
b)  Please explain the security concerns associated with imports of radio transmitting and 
receiving sets and wireless telegraph devices.  Are the domestic production and sale of 
this equipment similarly restricted? 
 c)  Must domestic food producers provide a cert ificate declaring their products to be free of 
radiation and dioxin before they are allowed to be sold in Oman?  What is the process 
for obtaining these certificates and where are the rules for obtaining them published?  
Is Oman using these certificates to verify compliance with SPS requirements?  Are these certificates additional to any other import documents required for the 
importation of food products? 
 
Replies: 
a) No 
b) Security concerns relate to the possible use of the equipment by terrorists or 
similar dangerous people. Same applicable  to domestic production and sale of 
such equipment. 
c) Only a certificate declaring their products  to be free of radiation is required 
for dairy products. This certificate is required to be issued by competent authority in U.S and 
attested by the embassy of the Sult anate of Oman or that of any GCC 
Countries 
-  Yes. 
-  Yes; 
-  Veterinary Health Certificates. 
-  Certificate of Origin 
-  Halal certificate (for meats and po ultry and their products) issued by 
Competent Islamic Centre. 
 3.2.7 Contingency Measures  
Page 29, paragraph 3.27:  Please provide a timeframe for when Oman expects to issue 
implementing regulations to the provisions on contingency trade remedies in Sultani Decree 
39/2006. Please also confirm that Oman will not impose any trade remedy measures until such 
implementing regulations are issued and notified to the applicable WTO committees. 
 Reply: 
The implementing regulations are in process at  the GCC level. Oman can confirm that it 
would not initiate or take any trade remedy  measures until implementing regulations 
are issued and notified to the WTO.  
3.3 Measures Directly Affecting Exports 
3.3.5 Free Zones  
Page 31, paragraph 3.37:   The Secretariat’s Report notes that in Oman’s two free zones, up to 
30% of free-zone production can be sold on the domestic market (i.e., at least 70% must be 
exported).  In addition, paragraph 3.36 notes th at some of the incentives that are awarded to 
companies in these zones include an exemption from taxes on profits or dividends for 30 years and 
an exemption from taxes on personal income.  To the extent that these income tax incentives are WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 36 - 
 
  contingent upon export, please explain how these incentives are consistent with Oman’s 
obligations under Article 3 of the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement).  
Reply:  
Page 31, Para 3.37) 
To our understanding there is no decision, de claration or agreed interpretation on the 
application / relationship of Article 3 of the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and 
Countervailing Measures to Free Zones.  Page 31, paragraph 3.38:  The Secretariat’s Report states that the Salalah free zone issues five 
types of licences, one of which is a national lice nce designed for manufacturing companies with at 
least 51% GCC ownership or shareholding, and mi nimum value-added of 40%.  It goes on to 
explain that goods produced by companies that m eet both of these criteria are considered as 
Omani and are not subject to the 30% limitation on sales in the domestic market and their 
domestic sales are not treated as imports.  Based on this description, it appears that companies that qualify for a national licence are able to import raw materials and capital goods duty free and 
then sell their goods into the domestic market without paying the relevant customs duties.  Please 
explain how Oman views such provisions in light of the provisions of the SCM Agreement not to 
provide prohibited subsidies.  In addition, please explain how companies meet the 40% value-added criteria mentioned above.  
 
Reply:  
Please refer to Reply to the previous question. 
 
3.3.6 Export Finance, In surance and Guarantees 
Page 31, paragraphs 3.39-42:  The Secretariat’s Report notes that Oman’s Export Credit 
Guarantee Agency (ECGA) promotes Omani exports mainly through:  Export Credit Insurance (ECI), Pre-shipment Export Credit Guarantee (PECG), Post-shipment Financing (PF), and Domestic Credit Insurance (DCI).  It appears that under the PF program, commercial banks grant post-shipment advances at a reduced interest rate of 7% maximum per year to exporters for up to 
180 days. Please explain how Oman views these programs in light of Article 3 of the SCM 
Agreement.  In addition, please explain the ECI an d DCI programs described above in light of item 
(j) of Annex I of the SCM Agreement. 
 
Reply: 
The interest rate of 7% is not a subsidy offered by ECGA of Oman. It is the maximum 
interest rate by the Bank in Oman for disc ounting export bills which are credit insured 
by ECGA of Oman. Currently, the prevailing interest rates offered by Omani Banks to 
their customers to discount their export b ills is between 5%-6%, i.e. less than 7%. 
 
3.4 Measures Affecting Production and Trade 
3.4.3 Government Procurement  
Page 35, paragraph 3.69:  The Secretariat’s report notes that Oman is an observer to the WTO 
Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).  The revised GPA will come into force on April 6, 
2014, and currently there are a number of countries that are in the process of acceding to the 
revised GPA.  The addition of Oman to the GPA would constitute an important expansion of the 
GPA.  Please provide a timeframe by which Oman would begin accession to the GPA.  Reply: 
Oman is in the process of examining the prepar ation for initiating accession to the GPA.  
 3.4.4 Intellectual Property Rights 
3.4.4.2 Patents 
Page 37, paragraph 3.77:  According to the Secretariat’s Report, from 2008-2012, 44 national 
patent applications and 1,221 Paris Convention and PCT applications were filed.  As of November 
2013, just 2 patents were granted. Please explain the difference between national applications and 
Paris Convention applications in the count. Given the noted examination capacity issues and that the patent term begins from the date of filing, has Oman given any consideration to some sort of compensation (e.g., a term extension) to patent applicants whose term of protection is 
significantly curtailed by examination delays? WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 37 - 
 
  Reply:  There have been 27 application for Pari s Convention and the remaining for PCT 
applications. As to the provision of compensation the reply is in the affirmative. Oman has given 
extension between three and five years upon request.   
The difference between national applications and Paris Convention applications in the 
count are: 44 national patent application ha s been field from Omanis or residents of 
Oman and other 1221 applications, are App.  field in accordance with the Paris 
Convention which field Based on previous nati onal patent App. (26 App.) , and the bulk 
of applications are field  in the national phase according to the PCT treaty Based on 
previous international patent App. ( 1195   App.). 
 
-Yes, Oman has given consideration to some sor t of compensation to patent applicants 
whose term of protection is significantly cu rtailed by examination delays by extended 
the term of protection according to in dustrial property law 67/2008 Section 12. 
 
Section 12 
 
(1) (a) Subject to Subsection (2), a patent shall expire 20 years after the filing date of 
the application for the patent.  (b) In the event a patent is granted more th an four years after the filing date, or two 
years from the request for examin ation, whichever is later, the term of protection of that 
patent shall be extended so as to compensate for any period of time in excess of four 
years from the filing date.  Extensions sha ll be granted upon request by the patent 
owner and the payment of the prescribed fee. No extension longer than five (5) years 
beyond the normal expiry date shall be gran ted. Periods attributable to actions of the 
patent applicant shall not be included in the determination of such delays. 
 
(c) An adjustment of the patent  term shall be available, up on the patent owner’s request 
and the payment of the prescribed fee, if th e marketing approval process related to the 
first commercial use of the product in Oman takes longer than 24 (twenty four months) 
from the date of application of marketing approval, provided that the delay is not 
attributable to actions of the patent applicant or patent owner.   
3.4.4.8 Enforcement 
Page 38, paragraph 3.88:  According to the Secretariat’s Report, “IPR infringements and violations 
are subject to fines (up to RO 10,000) or imprison ment (up to three years).  Civil remedies are 
available in all cases of infringement.  The Public Prosecution Office may initiate legal action ex 
officio with respect to IPR-related offences, with out the need for a formal complaint by a private 
party or right holder.”  Please provide further details (including statistics) summarizing the number of enforcement actions taken (civil, criminal, and border), and their results, with respect to IPR 
infringements (copyright, trademark and patent). Pl ease also provide a separate breakout for legal 
actions initiated ex officio.  
Reply : The required information will be provided later on. 
 
The public prosecution office in itiate legal action in most cases upon the request by right 
holders. In some cases the Public Prosecution O ffice may initiate legal action ex officio. 
 3.4.5 State trading, state-owned enterprises, and privatization 
Page 38, paragraph 3.89:  The Secretariat’s Report states that Oman last notified the WTO 
Working Party on State Trading Enterprises in 2004.  Please state when Oman intends to provide an updated notification to the WTO Working Party.  
Reply:  
The notification has already been prepar ed and it is being sent to the WTO. 
 
PART III:  OTHER QUESTIONS  
Measures Directly Affecting Imports/Procedures 
Please provide an outline of the administrative procedures (e.g., advanced rulings requirements and protest procedures, including review by customs headquarters) that pertain to the 
interpretation of the laws and regulations that govern the country of origin marking requirements. WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 38 - 
 
  Reply: 
As present Oman has no special administ rative procedure, except the general 
procedures under the GCC Common Customs La w. However, administrative procedures 
may be provided once the Agreement on Trade Facilitation enters into force. 
 
Does Oman have any “authorized operator” programs, whereby importers can qualify for reduced customs scrutiny based on, for example, compliance history, security profile and validation of a 
sample international supply chain?  If so, please provide a copy of the requirements for importers 
to qualify. If not, is Oman considering implementing such a program?  Reply: 
No  In Country Value Initiative/ Government Procurement 
Oman’s In Country Value (ICV) initiative regarding local sourcing of goods and services and 
investment in a local petroleum support industry, among other elements, appears to be a case of forced localization as it is considered a prerequisite in the award of oil and gas government 
procurement contracts. By creating a preference for the use of local goods or services, the ICV 
initiative appears to disadvantage foreign firm s versus local firms while bidding on business 
opportunities. Is Oman taking any steps to address this issue in light of the impact on Oman’s trading partners?  How do Omani authorities plan to ensure that such restrictions are aligned with 
Oman’s bilateral and regional trade commitments? 
 Reply:  
At present, Oman’s practice is covered under Paragraph 8(a) of Article III of the 
GATT 1994. WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 39 - 
 
  QUESTIONS FROM THE SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY OF TAIWAN, PENGHU, KINMEN 
AND MATSU  PART I: REGARDING THE SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/295) 
 
4. TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR 
4.3 Mining, energy and water 
4.3.2 Crude Oil 
 
Page 45 (4.32) 
Oil and condensate reserves were estimated at 4,974 million barrels in 2013, compared with 4,865 million barrels in 2006. Added reserves due to new discoveries and re-evaluation of known reserves during the period under review varied between 162 million barrels in 2008 and 
389 million barrels in 2012. Although the discoveries in past years usually exceeded production, it 
is estimated that by 2030 the country's reserve could be largely depleted. 
Question(s): 
1. Oman’s oil reserves are projected to be deplet ed; in light of this, are there any new export 
strategies to deal with the diminishing reserves? 
 
Reply: 
Ministry of Oil & Gas aims always to support foreign and local investment to enhance oil and gas reserves. At the same time, efforts also conti nued in encouraging producing companies to adopt 
new technologies to decrease the depletion rate as well as to extract difficult hydrocarbon 
reserves. 
 Page 45 (4.34) 
Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), in which the State holds a 60% stake, holds the vast 
majority of Oman's oil reserves and is responsible for 80% of its production. There are two major refineries, both state-owned: Oman Oil Refinery Company and Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum 
Industries Company. Oman is not a member of OPEC. 
Question(s): 
1. Are the Oman Oil Refinery Company and Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries 
Company competitors? What are the market shares for these two companies?  
 
Reply: The two mentioned companies are not competitors. These two were merged into  Oman Oil 
Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company SAOC 'ORPIC' which  represents the integrated 
management of three operating companies: 1. Oman Refineries and Petroc hemicals Company LLC (ORPIC) WHICH IS THE MERGER OF Oman 
Refinery Company and Sohar Refinery Company. 
2- Aromatics Oman LLC 3- Oman Polypropylene.  
4.3 Mining, energy and water 
4.3.3 Natural Gas 
 Page 46 (4.40) 
Liquefied petroleum gas for household use is subject to a price cap. The MFN tariff on imports of 
natural gas is 5%. WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 40 - 
 
  Question(s): 
1. What is the pricing formula for LPG? 
Reply: 
LPG PRICE FROM PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT OF OMAN 
COMPANY TO THE BOTTLING COMPANY 40.909 OR/MT 
LPG PRICE FROM OMAN OIL REFINERY ABD PETROLEUM 
INDUSTRIES COMPANY TO THE BOTTELING COMPANY 60.909 OR/MT 
 
2. What is the policy for subsidizing households? 
 Reply: 
Subsidy to households is for consumer we lfare and to keep the cost of living 
reasonable. 
 
PART II: REGARDING THE GOVERNMENT REPORT (WT/TPR/G/295) 
 
4. SECTORAL DEVELOPMENTS 
4.3 Oil Sector and Mining 
 Page 9 (4.10) Oman has pursued a policy of economic diversification by utilizing more and more hydrocarbon 
resources to develop value-added industries based on oil and gas. These include petrochemical 
and energy-intensive industries. 
Question(s): 
1. What are the main petrochemical products produced in Oman? 
Reply:  1-Magas 95 
2- Magas 90 
3- Gas oil 4- Aviation fuel 5- Fuel oil 
6- LPG 
7- Blended products 8- Benzene paraxylene 
9- Polypropylene. 
  What are the production targets for petrochemicals? 
 
Reply: MOG is involved only on ORPIC products.ORPIC can produce up to 222,000 barrels per day of fuel. The fuel – gasoline, kerosene (jet fu el) and disel – are marketed by three major 
marketing companies in Oman (Oman oil, Shell, and AL Maha). A further companies lift 
liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) with road tankers for local bottling and distribution for domestic 
use. There is no fixed  target for each product. It is supplied to cover the demand of the 
country of each product and the excess production is exported by ORPIC.  
 WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 41 - 
 
  QUESTIONS FROM RUSSIA 
 OMAN  
1. It is written in par. 2.29 of the Secretariat’s report that foreign investment in companies 
with capital less than 150 000 is banned. Above th is threshold, foreign investors may own up to 
49% of companies. In practice, this share may be increased to 70% and to 100% in the free 
zones. Subject to approval by the Cabinet, foreig n ownership of 100% may be accepted in projects 
with total capital exceeding RO 500,000. A num ber of services are excluded from foreign 
investment.  
Taking into account and supporting members’ questions and concerns distributed by the 
Secretariat RD/TPR/284 on discriminatory meas ures for foreign investors, restrictions 
on FDI and the exclusion of foreigners from certain activities are not in full compliance 
with GATS. What are the liberalization plans in this context?  
 Reply : 
As has been mentioned by His Excellency the Undersecretary of Commerce & Industry in his 
concluding statement Oman is in the process of exam ining its legislation on foreign 
investment with a view to making it more liberal and more investor-friendly. In doing 
so, we have to strike an appropriate bala nce between foreign and domestic investment 
in order to ensure sufficient opportunity for smaller domestic investors to participate in 
economic development. It may be pointed out however that Oman has already made 
very liberal investment commitments on a number of important services including 
banking and financial services and telecom services.  
 2. It is mentioned in para. 4.17. that The Public Authority for Stores and Food Reserve 
maintains reserve stocks of basic food commodities. The Authority's stocks are rotated regularly. It 
imports lentils, sugar, and rice through international tenders, while the other products are purchased through local tenders. Purchase and sale prices are set at market values.  
Where the participation procedure in intern ational tenders for foreign company can be 
found?  
Reply: The procedures for participation in in ternational tenders are readily available at 
the Tender Board website. WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 42 - 
 
  FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES 
Replies from the Sultanate of Oman to 
Follow-up Questions from CANADA 
Oman 
Secretariat Report – Trade Policy Review: Oman (S295)  
Part 2 Trade Policy Regime: Framework an d Objectives: (4) Trade Agreements and 
Arrangements; (2) Regional and bilateral agre ements; (5) Agreements not yet in force: 
paragraph 2.25, page 20: 
The report states that “The GCC is negotiating free-trade agreements with Australia, China, India, 
Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mercosur, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Turkey. The authorities 
indicate that feasibility studies will be ca rried out before any new agreement is signed.”  
1. Could Oman please provide information regarding the feasibility study process? 
2. Could Oman please provide an update on the status of these feasibility studies and the 
timelines for their completion? 
3. Could Oman please provide an update on the status these free-trade negotiations? 
Reply: H.E the Undersecretary of Commerce & Industry, Head of Oman Delegation at TPR 
meeting mentioned that this is under active consideration by the GCC and a decision is 
expected soon.  
Part 7 Future Direction of Oman’s Trade Policy: paragraph 7.7, page 11: 
The report states that “Oman has and would selectively conclude preferential trade 
agreements within the framework of the GCC.”  
4. Under what conditions would Oman conclude  a preferential trade agreement within the 
framework of the GCC? 
Reply: 
As a member of GCC Customs Union, any pref erential trade agreement should be under 
the umbrella of GCC, not individually. WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 43 - 
 
   
Replies from the Sultanate of Oman to 
 
Follow-up Questions from CHINA 
 
Questions based on Report by the Secretariat (WT/TPR/S/295) Economic Environment 
Page 13, para.1.12  
The Report states that “Oman's exports are largely destined to Asian countries and mostly consist 
of hydrocarbons (Chart 1.2 and Table A1.3). The share of exports to China and India grew 
significantly during the period under review, while the importance of Korea and Thailand as export 
destinations decreased…For non-oil exports, India, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi 
Arabia and China are the prime destinations”. 
 
Questions ： 
How does the Government evaluate the impact of the global economic developments, as well as 
the continued growth of the Chinese economy, on  Oman’s energy exports in the years to come? 
 
Reply: 
The Government through its different Ministries an d Agencies keeps on examining global economic 
developments and their impact on Oman’s economy and its foreign trade. In this context special 
attention is given to developments in Chinese economy and the opportunities it offers for the 
development of Oman’s economy and foreign trade. China is an important trading partner of Oman.  
Measures Directly Affecting Exports 
 
Page 31, para.3.39 The Report states that “[t]he fully government-funded Export Credit Guarantee Agency of Oman 
(ECGA) promotes companies based in Oman, regardless of their ownership, mainly through the 
following programmes: the Export Credit Insurance (ECI), Pre-shipment Credit Guarantee (PCG), 
Post-shipment Financing (PF), and Domestic Credit Insurance (DCI)”. 
 
Questions ： 
Please confirm whether the ECGA provides medi um and long-term export credit insurance and 
overseas investment and lease insurance. 
 
Reply: ECGA of Oman currently provides short-term credit insurance solutions mentioned above. If not yet, what is the reason for the non-provision of those insurance services? 
 
Reply: ECGA of Oman has recently – March 2014 – Obtained Ministry of Finance approval for adding new 
services to its Articles of Association to include; guarantees, investment insurance, and bonds. 
Furthermore, the Agency will be officially launching a new product during 1
st half of 2014 titled; 
Documentary Credit Insurance Policy “DCIP”.  
 
If ECCGA does now, or plans to cover the above-mentioned insurance business in future, does it or will it agree to accept the limitations on the term s and conditions of export credits set out by the 
OECD “Gentlemen’s Agreement”? 
 
Reply: ECGA of Oman is a member of the Prague Club of the Berne Union, and reinsure its business with 
European reinsurers. Hence, is to comply with many set conditions by various regulators including 
the European Union.  
Please explain the different degrees of risk exposu re across categories of service provided by ECI, 
PCG, PF and DCI respectively.   
 WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  Reply: 
Risks insured under Export Credit Insurance “ECI”; (a) commercial risks; insolvency, and protracted default. (b) non-commercial risks – political risks –; delays in transferring funds from buyer’s country, any action of the buyer’s govern ment which wholly or partly prevent performance 
of the contract, political events or economic or legislative or administrative measures occurring 
outside OMAN which prevent or delay transfer of payment, war or civil commotion or any other action in the buyer’s country preventing performance of the contract, cancellation or non-renewal 
of an import license or imposition of new restrictions on exports after date of contract, failure or 
refusal of the part of the public buyer to fulfi ll any of the terms of the contract where ECGA of 
Oman has agreed that the buyer is a national government authority.  
Risks insured under Domestic Credit Insurance “DCI”; (a) insolvency, and (b) default of payment 
by the buyer after acceptance of the goods.  
Risks insured under Pre-Shipment Credit Guarantee “PCG”; (a) insolvency of the 
policyholder/exporter, (b) protracted default of policyholder/exporter.  
Post-Shipment Financing Scheme “PF”; under this scheme, credit insured policyholders – exporters 
– can discount ONLY their export bills which are cred it insured with banks at a preferential interest 
rate set at a maximum of 7% per annum. However, the prevailing current interest rate is between 
4%-5%. Thus reducing their post-shipment financing cost. Hence, the policyholders are assigning 
the benefits under their credit insurance policies as  additional collateral to banks for additional 
financing.  
Page 31, para.3.40 
The Report states that “[t]he ECI covers export sales made on credit terms of 180 days or less. It 
provides protection of up to 80% against comme rcial risk and up to 85% against non-commercial 
risk. In 2012, export credits covered by this pr ogramme totalled RO 332.8 million, up from RO 
236.7 million in 2007”.  Questions ： 
Please define “non-commercial risk” and explain its difference with political risk. 
 
Reply: Answered under risks insured under Export Credit Insurance “ECI”. What is the rationale for setting different protection rates against commercial risk (up to 80%) and non-commercial risk (up to 85%)? And what are th e major obstacles to raise the protection rate 
up to 90%, or even 100% for both types of risks? 
 Reply: 
The main benefit to policyholders/exporters availing ECI is to minimize their credit risks and 
maximize their opportunities by exporting Oman i non-oil manufactured goods abroad. Hence the 
scope of coverage set in its Articles of Association – approved by Ministry of Finance – was 80% 
for commercial risks, and 85% for non-commercial – political – risks. The higher percentage of 
cover under political risk is explained by the fact that it is riskier to control than commercial or 
credit risks. It also encourages the policyholders  to carry out their own due-diligence, and select 
good buyers instead of just throwing the ba d apples in the basket to ECGA of Oman.  
 
Trade Policies by Sector 
Page 41, para.4.1 The Report states that “[t]he petroleum and gas sector has continued to play a predominant role 
in Oman's economy. Against this background, the Government's eighth Five-Year Development 
Plan (2011-15) strives to further enhance economic diversification; non-oil activities are expected 
to grow by 6% annually at constant prices, during the plan period...”. 
 
Questions ： 
Please provide updated information on Oman’s dive rsified development of economy, as well as its 
main policies and measures put in place to enhance economic diversification. 
 
Reply: As has been mentioned by His Excellency the Undersecretary of Commerce & Industry in his opening statement the Diversification of Omani economy is one of  the pillars of Oman’s economic 
policy, and according to data which he also mentioned in his statement showed the results of the WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  government efforts on this issue by the increasing of no n-oil exports from 2008 to 2012 which was 
83 per cent as against 38 per cent for total exports. One more indicator of the success of diversification is the growing share of Services  in the GDP which was 35.4 per cent in 2012.  
 
Financial Services 
 
Page 51, para.4.66 The Report states that “[f]oreign insurance companies may supply insurance services as a locally 
incorporated company or as a branch of the parent company. For foreign insurance companies, the 
Decree stipulates: (i) all policies covering risks situated in Oman must be issued in Oman;…”. 
 
Questions ： 
Please clarify how to define “risks situated in Oman”? Pursuant to the relevant Decree, the well-
recognized credit risks  in international trade should be deemed as “risks situated in Oman”, or not? 
 Reply: 
All policies covering risks situated in Oman must be issued in Oman through insurance companies 
registered in Oman, unless there are international treaties or agreements. WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  Replies from the Sultanate of Oman to 
 
Follow-up Questions from the EU 
 
WT/TPR/S/295 – WTO Secretariat's Report - Oman  
 1 ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 
1.2 Recent economic developments 
Page 9, paragraph 1.4  
 Initial EU question 1: Does the Sultanate of Om an consider replacing the present sponsorship / 
kafala system by a system in which the residenc e and other rights of an expatriate would not 
depend on an individual Omani citizen or company as sponsor / kafeel?  
Reply to EU Question 1 
The question in its present form is not releva nt to any WTO provision. It is not relevant 
to Trade Policy Review. 
 
Follow-up EU question: In line with the rules and procedures of the WTO TPR, the European Union 
would like to repeat its question: does the Su ltanate of Oman consider replacing the present 
sponsorship / kafala system by a system in which the residence and other rights of an expatriate 
would not depend on an individual Omani citizen or company as sponsor / kafeel? 
 Reply to Follow-up EU question: 
Oman would like to reaffirm its previous reply that this is not relevant to any WTO provision. It is 
not relevant to Trade Policy Review.  
Page 9, paragraph 1.5 
 Initial EU questions 2 and 3: Could the Sultanate of Oman elaborate on its method for determining 
the quotas for different sectors which ensures that these are realistically attainable by businesses? 
Could the Sultanate further inform about its strategy of ensuring that quotas, rules and procedures 
for "Omanization" are predictable, transparent, co herent, and reliable and published with sufficient 
notice? 
 
Reply to Question 2 and 3 
The question is not relevant to any WTO prov ision. It is not relevant to Trade Policy 
Review. 
 Follow-up EU question: In line with the rules and procedures of the WTO TPR, the European Union 
would like to repeat its questions: could the Sultanate of Oman elaborate on its method for 
determining the quotas for different sectors which ensures that these are realistically attainable by 
businesses? Could the Sultanate further inform about its strategy of ensuring that quotas, rules and procedures for "Omanization" are predictable, transparent, coherent, and reliable and 
published with sufficient notice? 
 Reply to Follow-up EU question: 
Oman would like to reaffirm its previous reply that this is not relevant to any WTO provision. It is 
not relevant to Trade Policy Review.  1.2.1 Macroeconomic indicators 
Page 10, paragraph 1.8 
 EU questions 4 to 7: As for the vast majority of  migrant workers’ salaries are the basis for their 
remittances, could the Sultanate of Oman inform which measures and safeguards it has put in 
place in order to ensure the reliable and punctual payment of salaries to migrant workers by their 
employers? Do these measures and safeguards al so cover the particularly vulnerable group of 
migrant workers who are domestic workers? In this  context, could the Sultanate of Oman inform 
about the implementation of the provisions of the ILO Domestic Workers Convention (C189)? As 
the ability to earn a salary and to send remittances essentially depends on the physical well-being of the workers, could the Sultanate of Oman elab orate on the rules and measures in place which 
ensure health and safety at the workplace for migrant workers? WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
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  Reply to Question 4 and 7 
The questions do not relate to any WTO pr ovisions. These are not relevant to Trade 
Policy Review. It may be stated that Oman is abiding by its commitments on Movement 
of Natural Persons in its Schedule of  Specific Commitments on Services. 
 
Follow-up EU questions 4 to 7: In line with the rules and procedures of the WTO TPR, the 
European Union would like to repeat its questions:  As for the vast majority of migrant workers’ 
salaries are the basis for their remittances, coul d the Sultanate of Oman inform which measures 
and safeguards it has put in place in order to en sure the reliable and punctual payment of salaries 
to migrant workers by their employers? Do th ese measures and safeguards also cover the 
particularly vulnerable group of migrant workers who are domestic workers? In this context, could 
the Sultanate of Oman inform about the implemen tation of the provisions of the ILO Domestic 
Workers Convention (C189)? As the ability to earn  a salary and to send remittances essentially 
depends on the physical well-being of the worker s, could the Sultanate of Oman elaborate on the 
rules and measures in place which ensure health and safety at the workplace for migrant workers? 
 Reply to Follow-up EU question: 
Oman would like to reaffirm its previous reply that this is not relevant to any WTO provision. It is 
not relevant to Trade Policy Review. 
 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  3.4.4.3 Copyright and related rights 
Page 37, paragraph 3.80  
 EU questions 33 and 34: Are copyright applicatio ns compulsory to benefit from the copyright 
protection? Is this provision compatible with Article 5(2) of the Berne Convention prohibiting 
formalities? Does Oman legislation provide for limitations on liability for intermediary service suppliers? 
 
Reply to question 33 and 34:   
- Actually those 986 copyright applications were deposited from 2008 to 2012 because the system in Oman is a deposit system only and is not compulsory but optional. 
- Yes, copyright applications compulsory to benefit from the copyright protection. This provision is 
compatible with Article 5(2) of Berne Convention prohibiting formalities according to Article 34 of the Law of copyright and related rights No. 65/2008. 
 
Article (34) 
- The right holder shall have the right, but no obligation, to deposit, at his own expenses, one copy 
of the work, performance, phonogram or broadcasting program with the competent authority, and 
such deposit is considered as presumption of ow nership, and a record of the deposit shall be 
published as determined by regulations.  
A decision shall be issued by the competent Minister  determining the deposit system and due 
fees. - Yes, Oman legislation provides for limitations on liability for intermediary service suppliers 
according to Article 63 of the Law of copyright and related rights No.65/2008. 
 
Article (63) 
Without prejudice to the provisions of Telecommunications Law mentioned above, the provisions of 
this act shall apply to service provider as to any violation of its provisions or implementing decisions.  
Follow-up EU questions: In the lack of any answer  to this question, the EU would like to know 
whether copyright applications are compulsory to benefit from the copyright protection? Is this 
provision compatible with Article 5(2) of the Berne Convention prohibiting formalities? Does Oman 
legislation provide for limitations on liability for intermediary service suppliers? 
 Reply: 
Please refer to the previous  answer. 
  WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 48 - 
 
  4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR 
 Questions not linked to a specific section of the Secretariat report  
Visa and labour clearance concession for foreign workers. 
 EU question 48: the EU would like to ask the Omani authorities additional clarifications about 
labour clearances for female engineers.   Reply to EU Question 48: 
The question in its present form is not releva nt to any WTO provision. It is not relevant 
to Trade Policy Review. 
 Follow up EU question 48: In line with the rule s and procedures of the WTO TPR, the European 
Union would like to repeat its question:  the EU would like to ask the Omani authorities additional 
clarifications about labour clearances for female engineers.   
Reply to Follow-up EU question: 
Oman would like to reaffirm its previous reply that this is not relevant to any WTO provision. It is 
not relevant to Trade Policy Review. WT/TPR/M/295/Add.1 
 
- 49 - 
 
  Replies from the Sultanate of Oman to 
Follow-up Question from JAPAN 
Report by OMAN (WT/TPR/G/295) 
3 TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENTS 
3.7 Trade-related intellectual property rights (TRIPS)  (Question 1: Page 8, Paragraphs 3.22-3.24) 
[Oman Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI)] 
(In the case it has the authority to implement administrative actions)  
1. Please provide the number of seizures or any other administrative punishments by MOCI each 
year based on infringements of IPRs for the past 3 years with respect to each punishment. If MOCI has seized or imposed administrative punishments with respect to the products infringing Japanese companies’ IPRs, please provide the number of cases. 
 
2. How many days does it take, on aver age, for MOCI to impose an administr ative punishment 
against counterfeit products? (e.g., average days from the acceptance of IPR holder's request for 
imposition until imposition) 
 3. What kinds of actions can IPR holders take if administrative punishments aren’t imposed (e.g., 
filing of written opposition)? 
(In the case it doesn’t have the authority to implement administrative actions)  4. Are there any cases of MOCI taking action agai nst products infringing IPRs or an infringer? 
 
5. If any, based on what authority and what is MOCI entitled to do?  
6. And, in the case that the answer to question 4 is “yes”, please answer questions corresponding 
to the above questions listed as 1 through 3. 
 
Reply: 
The administrative actions are by the concerned  courts when cases are  transferred by public 
prosecution in consultation  with Public Authority  of Consumer Protection  and the measures 
which IPR holders can take are clear in the IPR laws. 
 
Several cases have been looked by the courts most of them related to Trade Marks . 
 
Report by the Secretariat (WT/TPR/S/295) 
 2 TRADE POLICY REGIME: FRAMEWORK AND OBJECTIVES 
2.1 Institutional framework 
and  3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 
3.4 Measures affecting production and trade 
3.4.2 Standards and other technical requirements 3.4.2.1 Standards, metrology, testing, and certification 
 
(Question 2: Page 15, Paragraph 2.6 and Page 33, Paragraph3.49) 
Are there laws or regulations which stipulate that Sultani decrees & Ministerial decisions, which 
include technical regulations, have to be published in the official gazette? What are the names of 
such laws or regulations?  Reply: 
 
Article 74, Chapter Seven of Sultani Decree No:101/96 promulgating the Basic Statute of the State, stipulates that Laws be published in the Official Gazette within two weeks of their issue. 
 
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