OMAN'S RESPONSE TO WOOD PACKAGING MATERIAL

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001597

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI
DEPT OF AGRICULTURE FOR CMP/FFPD
DUBAI FOR ATO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD MU ESTH
SUBJECT: OMAN'S RESPONSE TO WOOD PACKAGING MATERIAL
REGULATIONS

REF: USDA FAS 673709


1. Per reftel request for information on Oman's compliance
with new regulations governing wood packaging material, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed its response through
diplomatic correspondence dated October 24, 2005.


2. Begin informal translation of the operative paragraphs:

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to convey the
following response by the Ministry of Regional
Municipalities, Environment, and Water Resources:

a. The Sultanate of Oman joined the International Plant
Protection Convention in the year 1989, and the contact party
in the Sultanate on this convention is the Directorate
General of Agriculture.

b. Being party to the Vienna Convention on the Ozone
Protection, and the Montreal Protocol on the Ozone Depleting
Materials, the Sultanate does not permit the use of methyl
bromide in fumigating packaging wood.

c. Heat treatment of packaging wood is used by some
companies in the Sultanate. It is one of the methods
consistent with the standards set by the International Plant
Protection Convention, as cited in the documents enclosed
with the Embassy's note." (End informal translation.)
BALTIMORE