(Last updated: 4 Aug 2011)

Business etiquette

Business tips

Please note: Bribery of foreign public officials is a crime. Australian individuals and companies can be prosecuted in Australia for bribing foreign officials when overseas. For more information, go to the Attorney General's Department on foreign bribery.

Tariffs and non-tariff barriers

Tariff

Single-column tariff. Duties are ad valorem assessed on the C&F value (Incoterms 1990). The Gulf Co-operation Council unified rate of five per cent applies to most imports. Exceptions include:

• alcoholic beverages and pork products – 100 per cent
• bananas and potatoes – 25 per cent
• pipes, and dates – 20 per cent
• cement – 50 per cent
• paints and polyurethane products – 15 per cent

A specified list of items are exempt from duty, including basic foods, such as:

• meat
• edible vegetables and fruits
• rice and sugar
• fuel
• fertiliser
• printed matter
• machinery for agricultural purposes and government purchases

Customs authority contact details:

Director General of Customs
Royal Oman Police
PO Box 2 Muscat
Sultanate of Oman
Tel: +968 521 203
Fax: +968 521 034

Non-tariff barriers

Import restrictions

Special licences are required for certain classes of goods, eg. alcohol, firearms, narcotics, and explosives. The licences are issued by the Oman Chamber of Commerce. Importing agents must hold a general licence authorising the agent to carry out import transactions.

Other general information:

• Only registered traders may import automobiles, machinery and electronics.
• A number of items are prohibited for health and security reasons. Special regulations apply to cigarettes and items intended for re-export.
• Some essential goods are subject to price control.
• In order to protect domestic producers, seasonal bans are placed on the import of certain fruits and vegetables which are grown locally.
• Imports from Israel are prohibited.

Product certification, labelling and packaging

Labelling

Outer cases should bear consignee's mark and port mark and should also be numbered (to accord with packing list) unless their contents are such that they can be otherwise readily identified.

Although the labels of imported goods should be printed in Arabic and English, some English labelled items are sold in the market. Labels should show:

• Date of manufacture (in embossed letters)
• Date of packaging
• Expiry date (in embossed letters)
• Place of manufacture
• Type of food (including ingredients)

All consignments of foods must be accompanied by a certificate attesting to freedom from contamination (see 'Special certificates').

Carbonated beverages and cigarettes are subject to specific labelling requirements.

Packaging

Packing should be strong and should guard against extreme heat in summer, humidity in winter and possible storage in the open.

Plants and plant products are prohibited as packing materials.

Special certificates

An international phytosanitary certificate, issued by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry or the relevant state department of agriculture, and attesting to freedom from contamination, must accompany all fresh food consignments.

Health certification, issued by the appropriate authorities in the country of origin must accompany shipments of plants and their products (including fruit and vegetables) and animals and their products (see 'Public health requirements').

Methods of quoting and payment

Quotes in Australian dollars (with Pound Sterling equivalent), C&F or CF&C (Incoterms 1990) preferably by pro-forma invoice. Letters of credit are commonly used as means of financial settlement between Omani companies and foreign suppliers. Bank guarantees and bank drafts are also used. Generally payments are made in US Dollars.

Documentary requirements

Fax signatures are not permitted. A commercial invoice, a certificate of origin, a bill of lading, a packing list, a halal certificate (for meat). The documents must be legalised by the exporting country's chamber of commerce.

Commercial invoice

The original commercial invoice must be submitted for legalisation. The invoice should contain an accurate description of goods, including weight, quantities and values. The determination of the true value is important to facilitate customs taxation. The invoice should contain a signed statement that it is true and correct and certified by the appropriate chamber of commerce.

Certificate of origin

The certificate of origin must be certified by the appropriate chamber of commerce and legalised.

Bill of lading

The original of bill of lading (or airway bill) must be submitted for legalisation certification with the other documents. There are no regulations specifying the form or number of bills of lading required for any particular shipment. A bill of lading usually shows:

• The name of the shipper
• The name and address of the consignee
• Port of destination
• Description of goods
• The listing of the freight and other charges
• The full number of bills of lading and the date
• Signature of the carrier's official acknowledging receipt on board of the goods for shipment

The information should correspond to that shown on the invoices and the packages. The airway bill replaces the bill of lading on air cargo shipments.

Packing list

Not compulsory but facilitates clearance.

Public health requirements

Imports of plants and plant products require the prior approval of the Oman Agricultural Quarantine.

Live plants may not be imported in natural soil, including sand. Peat moss or a synthetic medium is acceptable.

Foodstuffs are usually subject to inspection by the Oman Customs authorities.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Petroleum and Minerals are responsible for the import of animals and animal products. Importers must provide this ministry with health certificates, issued by an approved authority in the country of origin. In Australia, this authority is usually the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) or the relevant state department of agriculture.

The importation of sheep and goats is prohibited unless prior written permission has been obtained from the Directorate- General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Petroleum and Minerals.

Shipments are subject to inspection on arrival.

Insurance

Follow importer's instructions, generally, insurance is effected in Oman.

Weights and measures

The metric system.