Muscat – The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, represented by the Directorate General for Standards and Metrology, has announced the suspension of new permits for private laboratories involved in food and water testing in the Governorates of Muscat and North Batinah. This suspension will remain in effect until further notice.

This decision is part of broader efforts to regulate the operation of private laboratories, enhance their efficiency, and ensure their distribution across Oman’s various governorates. Existing laboratories will continue to operate and perform the tests they are currently licensed for.

The Ministry also stressed the importance of all registered private laboratories obtaining international accreditation, specifically under the ISO/IEC 17025 standard, to ensure adherence to global quality standards.