TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT?

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000217 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATEFOR NEA/ARP, EEB/TPP/ATT/ATP DUBAI FOR ATO DWILLAMS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV TBIO PREL EAR MU SUBJECT: TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT? ¶1. On Mach 3, Shaikh Abdullah bin Ali al-Qatabi, President of the Majlis al-Shura, opened the National Sympsium on Food Safety in Muscat, sponsored by the inistry of Regional Municipalities, Environment ad Water Resources in association with the Ministy of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and isheries. Abdullah bin Salim al-Rawas, Ministerof Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources gave a presentation highlighting the imprtance of raising societal awareness regarding food safety precautions in response to economic and cultural changes resulting from the commercial liberalization of food ite exports. He also addressed the issue of food mnagement in Oman, as well as the latest regionaldevelopments in the food safety field. ¶2. Repreentatives from the U.S., Italy, Ireland, Jordan, an Saudi Arabia offered additional presentations. Mostafa Eldakdoky from the U.S. Department of Agiculture led two sessions on food safety adminisration and the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement's rojected impact on the agricultural and consumer ndustry. Furthermore, fourteen working papers wer presented at the symposium focusing on the development of human and technical capabilities (e.g. training food industry employees with new technologies),educating the Omani consumer on food safety, and the development of national food safety awareness campaigns. GRAPPO