Oman strengthens food safety laws to protect consumers

Muscat: The advanced legislative system of the Food Safety and Quality Centre, affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, represents a fundamental pillar for enhancing food security and protecting public health. This is due to its pivotal role in raising the efficiency of food control, boosting consumer confidence, ensuring the smooth flow of trade, and enabling the food sector to keep pace with rapid changes and challenges at the regional and international levels.The Centre continues its efforts to update the legislative and regulatory system in line with international best practices and modern scientific standards. This enhances the Sultanate of Oman's readiness to address developments related to food safety, modern food technologies, and emerging risks, aiming to contribute to boosting the competitiveness of national food products and enhancing compliance levels among various relevant entities. Dr. Intisar Salim Al Gharibi, Director General of the Food Safety and Quality Centre, confirmed that the Sultanate of Oman's commitment to continuing the development of a flexible and integrated legislative framework that keeps pace with global changes supports achieving the goals of Oman Vision 2040. This is achieved by enhancing food security, protecting consumer health, elevating the competitiveness of the food sector, and consolidating Oman's position as a trusted partner in the food trade system regionally and internationally.She added that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, represented by the Center, witnessed during the period from 2023 to 2025 the achievement of a package of qualitative accomplishments that contributed to strengthening the legislative infrastructure supporting the food safety and quality system. In 2023, a decision was issued banning the production, import, export, or marketing of food products containing titanium dioxide additive, based on scientific developments related to food safety.She stated that during that period, 82 draft technical regulations and national and Gulf standard specifications were reviewed, in addition to updating and translating five draft specifications, and studying eight requests to make partial amendments to Gulf standard specifications and technical regulations, contributing to aligning national legislation with scientific and regulatory developments regionally and internationally.She pointed out that 2024 saw the registration of a regulation on food products and advertisement or promotion, which contributed to enhancing proactive control over food products circulating in the markets and ensuring the accuracy and correctness of information provided to consumers. During the same year, 66 draft technical regulations and national and Gulf standard specifications were reviewed, eight draft specifications were updated and translated, and five requests to amend Gulf standard specifications and technical regulations were studied.She explained that during the past year, 48 draft technical regulations and national and Gulf standard specifications were reviewed, along with updating, translating, and adopting eight new specifications, and studying six requests for technical amendments and notifications. The Center also provided 232 standard specifications to competent departments across the various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, supporting the unification of inspection procedures and elevating the efficiency of applying technical requirements along the food chain.She emphasized that these efforts contribute to enhancing the efficiency of the food control system by providing unified technical references that support competent authorities and ensure the efficient implementation of health and technical requirements across all stages of the food chain.