RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/OMN/16
7 June 1999
(99-2277)
Working Party on the
Accession of OmanOriginal:  English
ACCESSION OF OMAN
Action Plan for Implementing SPS Agreement
Plants and Plant Products
Existing Position and On-going Programmes
The Plant Quarantine law that come into force by the Royal Decree No. 49/77 was designed
to protect the major economic crops of the Sultanate.  This decree was conceived during a period
when the classification of pests by the region into those that are of significance; globally, to the regionand the country did not exist.  Therefore, quarantine impediments were applied to pests of economic
significance as well as to pests that were then believ ed to be not present in the Sultanate.   The law
does not differentiate the quarantine pests, regulated pests and regulated non-quarantine pests from
other pests.
The Decree was published in the government gazette and copies of this were made available.
Additionally, publicity was achieved through brochures and the print.   Transparency was provided in
the customary manner.   The Decree does not discriminate between domestic and foreign supplies.  It
provides MFN treatment and does not hinder trade.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries administers the Plant Quarantine Law through its
plant quarantine section within the Department of Agri cultural Affairs.   Scientists and Researchers of
the Directorate General of Agriculture Research provide the necessary technical support.
Recently a parent Plant Quarantine law came into force between GCC member nations,
designed to protect the major economic crops of GCC.  The law differentiates the quarantine pests,
regulated pests and regulated non-quarantine pests from other pests.
This agreement was announced in major news papers throughout GCC countries to provide
timely information to all who may be concerned. The law will further be published in the Government
gazette and copies of this will be available.  Additionally, publicity will be achieved through
brochures and prints.  Transparency will be provided in the customary manner.  The new law does not
discriminate between domestic and foreign supplies.  It provides MFN  treatment and does not hindertrade.
Action Plan
1. A new Royal Decree 31/98 issued on 19th May 1998 for the protection of agricultural wealth has
been designed to strengthen pest-entry quarantine and is being implemented.
2. By the Ministerial Decision No. 7/98 issued on 24th January 1998 a special committee to evaluate
the existing plant quarantine regulations in relation to the requirements of the WTO and SPS
Agreements, was established within MAF.WT/ACC/OMN/16
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3. A special committee has been formed to revise and update the Nursery Establishment law and to
harmonize it with that of GCC member nations.
4. Plant quarantine manual and other directions are under preparation based on scientific data for the
implementation of the regulations.
5. Special effort will be made to harmonize the regulation.  Publicity will be ensured through the
print and electronic media.   Transparency will be achieved by circulating the regulations to the
concerned parties and to the committee on SPS measures well ahead of the publication of the
regulations.  Comments and concerns will be invited and appropriate  action will be taken.
Future Programmes:
1. The updated quarantine regulations will be harmonized and will apply quarantine impediments to
pests for which pest-risk analysis has been completed.
2. The updated regulations will be published and adequate transparency will be ensured.  Comments
will be invited from concerned parties and from the committee on SPS measures.   The necessary
modification to the regulations may be made as is customary in the Sultanate.
3. The legal and administrative frame work together with the identity of the institutions responsible
for the implementation of the updated regulations will be notified well in advance of the date ofenforcement of the regulation.
4. The necessary staff to implement the various provisions in the regulations will be trained and
made available in due time.
5. Effort will be made to obtain the services of experts in areas where such expertise is lacking.
Fertilizers
Existing Position and On-going Programmes:
The Sultanate is now implementing the Gulf Standards that specify the general requirements
and specifications of the organic and inorganic fertil izers.  The MAF will inquire a certificate from the
country of Origin.
Action Plan:
1. A Ministerial Order No. 1119/4 of 06th September 1998, was issued to form a special committee
from the Directorate General of Agricultural Research to revise and update the fertilizer
production and importation policies and the quarantine measures.
2. A fertilizer quarantine manual for the Sultanate of Oman is under preparation
3. Extension services will be involved in the publicity and the circulation of the regulations through
mass and electronic media, and feedback will be carefully evaluated, and an appropriate action
will be taken.WT/ACC/OMN/16
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Future Programmes :
1. Adequate transparency will be the core in updating the quarantine regulations by inviting experts
and concerned parties and a copy of it will be sent to WTO members.
2. Notification of the legal, administrative framework and institutions responsible for the
implementation of the updated regulations.
Pesticides and residues
Existing Position and On-going Programmes:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries regularly updates and publishes the list of banned
pesticides based  on UNEP recommendations.  An equipped Pesticide Quality Control and Residue
Analysis Laboratory was established in the MAF, and it is fully functional.  The Royal Decree No.
46/95 was issued on 18th September 1995 empowers the Minister of Regional Municipalities and
Environment to implement the laws relating to the control and use of pesticides.  By virtue of thepowers provided in the Royal Decree, a permanen t Committee had been formed with representation
from the Ministries of Agriculture and Fisheries; Commerce and Industry; Health; Defense;
Petroleum and Gas; Water Resources; and the Police and the Sultan Qaboos University.     This
Committee provides guidelines for the drafting of the regulations and will oversee its implementation.
Future Programmes:
By the Ministerial Order No. 1118/ of 06th September 1998, a pesticide law for the regulation
of agricultural pesticides is under preparation by the experts of the Directorate General of Agriculture
Research (MAF).   The MAF will be responsible for:
1. Recommendation of the registration of the pesticides for use in agriculture.   A certificate of
registration and use from the Country of Origin or from EPA or the European Union will be
required.
2. Determination of pesticides residue levels in fresh vegetables and fruit commodities based on
Codex Alimentarius, MRL’s limits.  A certificate from the country of Origin is required forimported commodities.
Livestock and Livestock Products
Existing Position and on-going programmes :
To safeguard the health status of livestock and public, the Royal Decree No. 47/77 and the
Ministerial Order No. 3/84 were issued that makes the basis for the Quarantine Restrictions and the
control of animal diseases in Oman.   Veterinary Quarantine fees were specified by the Ministerial
Order 29/89.  With respect to zoonoses control, a Royal Decree 73/92 was issued where specific
zoonotic diseases were subjected to compulsory notifications.   The National Zoonotic Committeewas set up under Ministerial Order 177/87 and revised under Ministerial Order 231/92 where common
zoonoses are discussed and tackled jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Ministry
of Health.
Based on these, the following was undertaken;(a) Decrees were published in government gazette, and copies of this were made available.  All
regulations were publicized through brochures and the print. Transparency was provided inWT/ACC/OMN/16
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the customary manner.   The regulations does not discriminate between domestic and foreign
supplies.  It provides MFN treatment and does not hinder trade.
(b) General quarantine guidelines and specific regulations have been practiced with respect to the
importation and exportation of livestock, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, livestock products, animal
feed, veterinary drugs, veterinary vaccines and biologicals.
(c) Importation is only possible through application of an import permit and all imports must
accompany a health certificate or certificate of analysis (for drugs, vaccines and animal feed.)
Halal slaughter Certificate is a must in all consignments of meats and poultry.
(d) All importations/exportations have to pass through official ports of entry.
(e) A veterinary Quarantine Guidelines and Directions have been prepared and distributed to all
quarantine staffs for easy reference and implementation.
(f) To facilitate efficiency, competent and sufficient staff working on 24 hours basis have been
employed in most port of entries.
(g) Bilateral and Multilateral Agreements have been agreed with certain countries.
(h) Oman is an active member of OIE and importations or exportations of animal and animal
products in most case are based on the OIE International Zoo-Sanitary Codes which offers all
possibilities to safeguard the interest of trading partners.
(i) Oman is a FAO member and embarks on FAO Projects in the field of Regional and
International collaboration in combatting major epizootics.   Oman also supports Regional
initiatives in disease surveillance and control including  FAO Regional Animal Disease and
Control Network (RADISCON).
(j) Oman is also a WHO member and works very close especially on matters related  to
International Collaboration in Surveillance and control of major zoonoses.
(k) Oman co-operates with the Arab Organizati on for Agricultural Developments on various
fields related to Livestock Developments, Disease Control and training.
(l) Recently a parent Veterinary Quarantine Law came into force between GCC member states.
It has formed to facilitate and simplify trade of animal origin between GCC member and theoutside world.
Future Programmes
Free trade on livestock and livestock products will initiate Oman to embark on a program to
review its zoo-sanitary conditions and measures so as to conform to SPS Agreement.  In doing this, it
is anticipated that;
1. This programme will be basically applied with an objective mainly of protecting human and
animal health, while considering the risk involv ed in the international trade of livestock and
livestock products.
2. Adequate  transparency on zoo-sanitary measures and quarantine regulations, inspections, testing
and controls will be available to all interested parties.   All updated changes will be notified wellin advance.WT/ACC/OMN/16
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3. SPS measures shall be published in a single publication available to all interested parties covering
all relevant information.   In the event of modi fication or changes it shall allow reasonable time
between publication and enforcement so that importers/exporters shall be well aware prior to
importation/exportation.
4. Routine Risk Assessment Analysis as a protective measures on human and animal health shall be
applied indiscriminately. The determined measures shall be based on logic and by methods
approved by OIE.
5. Oman will harmonize its standards and zoo-sanitary measures to those practiced and accepted by
WTO member states.  They will be based on SPS Agreement and International Organization.
6. Consideration will be made on the sanitary conditions of local products and those of other
countries where they originates or are destined taking into account the disease situation, control or
eradication of epizootics and zoonoses, handling, transportation and presence of bilateral or
multilateral agreement and relevant international standards.
7. Oman will ensure that there will not be any disc riminations with respect to different suppliers.
Likewise local and foreign suppliers will be treated equally.
8. The requirements of certifications with respect to importations/exportations shall be based on the
guidelines and recommendations of the OIE.   Oman’s certificates have been and continue to bebased on the patterns recommended by OIE, or by bilateral/multilateral agreements.   The only
exception and for religious reasons will be Halal Slaughter Certificate which will be demanded
for all meats and poultry destined to Oman.
9. Oman will continue to work closely with International Organisations (OIE,FAO, WHO etc.) in
assessing the sanitary situations locally, regionally and internationally especially in the field of
cooperation and collaboration in the control of major epizootics and zoonoses.
10. Oman will continue to encourage bilateral and multilateral agreements to facilitate trade on
livestock and livestock products with an aim of reducing health risks on human and animals.
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