Plain packaging of tobacco products came into effect in Oman in April 2024. The measure is in accordance with Ministerial Decision 67/2023 Deeming an Omani Standard Specification Binding.

All old stock is to be used by 30 June 2024, and no old packaging is allowed to enter the country. After that date, products in retails shops that do not comply with the new regulation will be illegal and removed by a consumer association. Cigarettes are not manufactured in Oman and the packages complying with the plain packaging regulation are imported into the country. This is a good example of how manufacturers of tobacco products can comply with national legislation adopted by other importing countries.

Oman is the second country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region to implement plain packaging, in addition to Saudi Arabia.

More details can be found in an earlier published implementation news piece. 

For more information, please, contact Dr Jawad al Lawati, WHO FCTC focal point, Ministry of Health (jallawati@gmail.com).