More than 10,000 food samples, mostly imported foods, were tested for safety and quality at the Central Laboratory for Phytosanitary and Foods Safety under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources in the recent past.

A centralised facility to monitor the arrival of food products to Oman through various sea, air and land routes assumes importance in the wake of the pandemic.

Speaking to the Observer, Dr Ibrahim bin Yahya al Ismaili, CEO, United Integrated Laboratories (UIL), said several rounds of checks are carried out on all food products before they enter into distribution.

“We have tested more than 10,000 food samples, predominantly agricultural products that entered the

market through various ports of entry.

“The mission of this institution is to ensure quality and food safety of agricultural products and foods in general,” Dr Ibrahim said.

Since the UIL was awarded the operation and management of the central lab, the team has applied international standards and best practices to test samples and ensure consumer rights.

“We started putting in place the equipment and systems in 2020, We are proud to say that we have succeeded in establishing and commissioning this lab at international standards,” he said.

The centre has 10 chemical and biological laboratories following international standards manned by Omanis and expats.

The bio lab does several tests ranging from food microbiology to seed quality, plant pest examinations and GM tests. At chemical Labs, tests include water analysis, chemical residues, food constituents, fertiliser and pesticide qualities.

“If they are coming from outside the country, we need to ensure they have passed the quarantine testing against different kinds of diseases and pests.”

The centre receives more than 700 samples every month whereas it has a capacity to check 400 samples per day.