Describes the country's standards landscape, identifies the national standards and accreditation bodies, and list the main national testing organization(s) and conformity assessment bodies.
Last Published: 11/20/2018

Overview

As part of the GCC Customs Union, Oman is working toward unifying its standards and conformity assessment systems with those of the GCC through the Gulf Standards Organization (GSO). Oman generally enforces GSO standards.  Most Omani standards are either GSO standards or those derived from another international standards organization. Oman is party to the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement and is a member of the WTO. Further, the U.S.-Oman FTA contains a chapter addressing standards as barriers to trade and facilitates bilateral engagement on standards issues. 

American businesspeople at times complain that European standards are often used in tender specifications, though Omani decision-makers are typically open to education on U.S. products.

Standards
The Omani body concerned with the establishment and overview of standards is the Directorate General of Specifications and Measurements of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the current point of contact can be reached at the following address:

Khamis bin Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman Al Farsi
Director General of the Directorate General of Specifications and Metrology
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Way 3505, Ruwi, Muscat
Tel: +968 2482-8000


The National Enquiry Point and Information Centre (NEPIC), under the Directorate General for Standards and Metrology (DGSM) of the MOCI, is Oman's national inquiry point. The DGSM is responsible for standardization, metrology, testing, quality control and quality assurance, conformity assessment and certification, and accreditation activities. Oman is harmonizing its technical regulations and standards at the GCC level. According to the authorities, Oman develops technical regulations and standards at the national level only if there is a pressing need.The regional customs union standards body may be reached at the following address:

GCC Standardization Organization
P.O. Box 85245
Riyadh 11961
Phone: (+ 966) 1 - 2746655
Fax: (+96611) 2105391
E-mail: csc@gso.org.sa / gso@gso.org.sa

NIST Notify U.S. Service
Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to notify to the WTO proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures that could affect trade. “Notify U.S.” (www.nist.gov/notifyus) is a free, web-based e-mail registration service that captures and makes available for review and comment key information on draft regulations and conformity assessment procedures. Users receive customized e-mail alerts when new notifications are added by selected country(ies) and industry sector(s) of interest, and can also request full texts of regulations. This service and its associated web site are managed and operated by the USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point housed within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

Testing, inspection and certification
In the wake of an indefinite suspension of the “GCC Guide for Control on Imported Foods,” the United States continues to engage in discussions with the GCC and its member states regarding their import requirements for food and agricultural products. In 2017, the U.S. and agricultural stakeholders raised concerns over newly-enforced import requirements in Oman involving the certification for pesticide residues as well as radiation attestations for agricultural products. 

A manufacturer declaration is required to assure conformity to Omani/GCC standards. In cases of nonconformity to current standards or the need for consideration of other internationally-recognized standards, a letter should be addressed to the Directorate General of Specifications and Measurements at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry with authenticated results of laboratory testing.

A product certificate is required to assure the product’s conformity to international or Omani/GCC standards. Non-food products are allowed automatic entry to Oman on the basis of a Manufacturer's Declaration of Conformity Assessment Certificate, supported by a test report verified by the DGSM; in parallel, some samples are collected unless a mutual recognition agreement is in place. Imported products that are not covered by certificates are released temporarily and their samples tested.

Any laboratory testing certificates relating to conformity to Omani or international standards should be submitted to the Directorate General of Specifications and Measurements, which is responsible for accrediting laboratories and classifying and assessing the results obtained.

Publication of technical regulations
The Directorate General of Specifications and Measurements supplies upon request a CD-ROM containing a listing of all standards and specifications adopted by the GSO, along with related information.

Contact Information
Saif al-Maawali
Head of International Cooperation
Directorate General of Customs, Royal Oman Police
Telephone: + (968) 24 521-109/24 521-108
E-mail: ropcustoms@yahoo.com; Smaawali78@gmail.com
Fax: + (968) 24 510-488
 
Adam Roth
Regional Export Control Officer
U.S. Department of Commerce
U.S. Consulate General – Dubai
Tel: +971 04 309 4083
Email: RothAS@state.gov
 
Rachel Duran
Commercial Attaché
U.S. Commercial Service | U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi
U.S. Department of Commerce | Int’l Trade Administration
Tel: 971-2-414-2530 | Email: Rachel.Duran@trade.gov

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