Gulf | Oman
Oman issues new Food Safety Law
Oman has promulgated a new Food Safety Law – the latest in a series of legislation aimed at safeguarding public health and strengthening consumer safety.
- Staff Report
- Published: 16:38 July 6, 2008
Muscat: Oman has promulgated a new Food Safety Law – the latest in a series of legislation aimed at safeguarding public health and strengthening consumer safety.
The Food Safety Law, issued on Saturday via a Royal Decree, empowers the Minister of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources to issue the necessary regulations in support of the law, which comes into force roughly six months from now.
The Omani government has been taking steps to build its legislative, enforcement and diagnostic capabilities in dealing with threats to public health and consumer safety stemming from the import and consumption of unsafe food.
These risks are not only associated with expired and improperly preserved food, but also from the potential use of unsafe food additives. Likewise, food imports from countries reporting outbreaks of epidemics, such as avian influenza are subjected to rapid import restrictions.
The new law provides a legal basis for the government's plans to establish a food management regime. This new system aims to ensure safety along the entire food chain.
The Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, the nodal agency for the enforcement of the new law, has outlined a national framework for ensuring the safety of food. Envisaged as part of this framework is a national food and drug authority. Its goal is to raise food safety to international standards.
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