Enhancing National Capabilities in Food Safety and Traceability (OMA5008)

Food safety has been identified as a priority sector in the 2016-2020 National Plan and has been reflected as such in the 2018-2023 Country Programme Framework (CPF). Presently, some food samples, particularly vegetables, are being screened for pesticide residues, heavy metals, and other organic and inorganic contaminants. A minimum capacity to analyse food contaminants exists in Oman. It is, however, scattered among institutions belonging to different ministries. None of the existing laboratories has a full-fledged quality system which would include use of validated analytical methods and estimation of measurement uncertainties and quality management systems tested regularly through participation in international proficiency testing schemes.

Through the national technical cooperation (TC) project OMA5003 on "Strengthening Oman's National Capabilities in Food Safety and Food Traceability", methods have been developed and validated for pesticide residues and mycotoxin analysis, with technical staff trained accordingly. But methods for the analysis of other contaminants were not developed and hence, were not validated. Updating of food safety legislation and regulations did not take place either. This project comes to supplement what was initiated with the previous project and to continue to build on these activities. The new project will support the Government's recent decision to create a national Food Safety and Quality Centre under the auspices of the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources.