MUSCAT : The inspections, conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources through its Food Safety and Quality Centre, covered a wide range of facilities, including water bottling plants, bakeries, farms, markets, and fish shops. Of the total visits, 69 were specialised inspections and 170 were conducted jointly with other authorities.

Engineer Maneh bin Saif Al Habsi, Director of the Centre in North Al Sharqiyah, said the monitoring campaign also resulted in four rapid Gulf alerts and the issuance of 12 food safety circulars. Authorities carried out 152 inspections of fish markets and shops, confiscating more than half a tonne of kingfish sold during the ban period, in addition to destroying quantities of spoiled fish across the governorate.

He added that the department implemented 19 training courses and 34 awareness programmes during 2025, while also approving 10 permits for food warehouses and supporting 13 establishments in obtaining ISO quality management certification. Awareness visits were also conducted in 25 schools as part of a campaign on school canteen safety.

In the first quarter of 2026, the department conducted 32 additional inspection visits, including food sampling and compliance checks, alongside 47 awareness programmes targeting consumers, students, food sector workers, and health personnel.

The governorate also marked Food Safety Week 2026 from April 5 to 11 under the theme ‘Food Safety is a Shared Responsibility’. Activities included four seminars and 19 awareness lectures attended by 2,780 people, as well as two exhibitions reaching 250 participants. Eight inspection campaigns were also conducted during the week, involving 392 workers and visitors in coordination with government entities and civil society organisations.

Al Habsi stressed that food safety remains a shared responsibility requiring cooperation between government agencies, the private sector, and the community, affirming the continuation of monitoring and awareness efforts to safeguard public health.

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