23,127 export, re-export certificates issued in 2018

Muscat: The number of certificates valid for the export and re-export of food products, certificates for whosoever is concerned, and validity certificates issued last year was 23,127, compared with 21,258 certificates issued in 2017.
"The increase in the number of certificates issued/accepted by companies was due to an increase in the number of applications, as well as a hike in the demand for products manufactured in the Sultanate, said Naila Bint Muhanna Al Hinaiyah, a food quality control specialist at the Directorate General for Standards and Metrology.
She said that there were a number of measures as part of the procedure of issuing the certificates of authority and validity for food products from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI).
First, the application is looked into, then there is a technical inspection to check compliance with the standard specifications. Every four months, samples are taken and sent to the laboratory of the Directorate General of Standards and Metrology or any laboratory registered with the MoCI as a third party for testing and examination in accordance with the applicable standard specifications in the case of companies, which manufacture products periodically. In addition to this, the details entered in the certificate are also examined to ensure that they are correct and if they comply with the requirements, certificates are issued.
Al Hinaiyah said that as for issuing re-export documents, the required documents are validity certificates from the country of origin or the test report, documents of the release of the consignment and copies of the commercial registration. If none of these documents are available, the product inspection and testing will be done. Only after completing all the requirements, will the certificate be issued.
As for issuing a “certificate for whosoever is concerned”, all the required documents are examined, depending on the type of certificates required. The certificate will be issued if all requirements are met. With regard to the acceptance of validity certificates, the certificates will be approved only if all requirements are met. This is to issue a document for the re-export of food products.