OMAN REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO U.S. BEEF IMPORTS

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000847 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EB/TPP/ATT STATE PASS TO USTR JBUNTIN USDA FOR FAS JBERNSTEIN DUBAI FOR ATO MHENNEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ECON EAGR ETRD MU ESTH SUBJECT: OMAN REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO U.S. BEEF IMPORTS REF: A. MUSCAT 538 ¶B. MUSCAT 484 ¶C. MUSCAT 383 ¶1. In a May 24 note verbale, Oman reaffirmed its April 4 commitment to permit the importation of U.S. beef. The text of the note verbale issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is below. ¶2. Begin informal translation: This Ministry would like to inform the Embassy that the concerned authorities in the Sultanate have informed the Ministry that there is no ban on U.S. beef imports to the Sultanate. Companies may import U.S. beef according to established procedures, which include obtaining a permit to import in advance, and ensuring that shipments are accompanied by a certificate of origin and a halal slaughter certificate, endorsed by the Sultanate's Embassy in Washington, or GCC Embassies." End informal translation. GRAPPO