<h3 data-path-to-node="3" style="font-family: "Google Sans", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="3" data-index-in-node="0" style="font-family: "Google Sans Text", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Royal Oman Police Enforces Phased Pallet Requirement to Accelerate Customs Clearance and Port Velocity</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="4" id="p-rc_0a21bb21eaa9f20c-172" style="font-family: "Google Sans Text", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-204" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"></span><b data-path-to-node="4" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">MUSCAT</b><span class="citation-204 citation-end-204" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> — In a major regulatory overhaul designed to boost trade velocity and modernize customs inspection workflows, the Directorate General of Customs under the Royal Oman Police (ROP) has issued a binding directive mandating full palletization for all containerized, breakbulk, and general import cargo entering the Sultanate of Oman.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c647700645="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c647700645="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2554013184="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2554013184="" _nghost-ng-c62182599="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="5" id="p-rc_0a21bb21eaa9f20c-173" style="font-family: "Google Sans Text", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-203 citation-end-203" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Enacted pursuant to Article 44 of the GCC Common Customs Law, the new policy establishes a standardized handling protocol across all Omani land, sea, and air gateways—including major maritime hubs such as the Port of Salalah, Sohar Port, and Duqm.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c647700645="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c647700645="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> The mandate aims to accelerate automated forklift handling, compress terminal inspection dwell times, and enhance end-to-end supply chain traceability for EXIM trade entering the GCC region.<sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2554013184="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2554013184="" _nghost-ng-c62182599="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><h3 data-path-to-node="7" style="font-family: "Google Sans", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="0" style="font-family: "Google Sans Text", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Two-Phase Implementation Timeline Across Transport Modes</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="8" id="p-rc_0a21bb21eaa9f20c-174" style="font-family: "Google Sans Text", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-202 citation-end-202" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">To allow international shippers and regional logistics providers sufficient time to adapt their packing and loading operations, Oman Customs has structured the policy rollout in two distinct phases:<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c647700645="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c647700645="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="3" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2554013184="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2554013184="" _nghost-ng-c62182599="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><ol start="1" data-path-to-node="9" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: "Google Sans Text", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,0,0" id="p-rc_0a21bb21eaa9f20c-175" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Phase 1 (Land Border Ports):</b><span class="citation-201" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> Formally took effect on </span><b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="53" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">July 15, 2026</b><span class="citation-201 citation-end-201" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, covering all truck and overland freight transit passing through Omani land border checkpoints.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c647700645="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c647700645="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2554013184="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2554013184="" _nghost-ng-c62182599="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,1,0" id="p-rc_0a21bb21eaa9f20c-176" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-200" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"></span><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Phase 2 (Air and Sea Gateways):</b><span class="citation-200" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> Becomes fully mandatory on </span><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="59" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">September 15, 2026</b><span class="citation-200 citation-end-200" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, extending compliance requirements to all sea container imports and air freight arrivals at all airports and seaports across the Sultanate.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c647700645="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c647700645="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="5" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2554013184="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2554013184="" _nghost-ng-c62182599="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ol><p data-path-to-node="10" id="p-rc_0a21bb21eaa9f20c-177" style="font-family: "Google Sans Text", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-199" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Under the new regulations, imported goods must be loaded on approved </span><b data-path-to-node="10" data-index-in-node="69" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">wooden pallets</b><span class="citation-199" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> (strictly compliant with ISPM-15 international phytosanitary heat-treatment and IPPC marking standards), </span><b data-path-to-node="10" data-index-in-node="189" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">plastic pallets</b><span class="citation-199" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, or </span><b data-path-to-node="10" data-index-in-node="209" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">metal pallets</b><span class="citation-199 citation-end-199" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c647700645="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c647700645="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="6" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2554013184="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2554013184="" _nghost-ng-c62182599="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><h3 data-path-to-node="12" style="font-family: "Google Sans", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="12" data-index-in-node="0" style="font-family: "Google Sans Text", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Exemptions and Enforcement Penalties</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="13" id="p-rc_0a21bb21eaa9f20c-178" style="font-family: "Google Sans Text", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-198 citation-end-198" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Recognizing that certain heavy industrial and specialized bulk commodities cannot be practically palletized, Oman Customs has outlined specific exempt categories.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c647700645="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c647700645="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="7" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> Exemptions apply to:<sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2554013184="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2554013184="" _nghost-ng-c62182599="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><ul data-path-to-node="14" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: "Google Sans Text", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="14,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Bulk cargo and raw liquid shipments</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="14,1,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Heavy machinery and oversized equipment</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="14,2,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Steel pipes, coils, and metal rolls</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="14,3,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Blocks of marble, granite, and raw stone</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="14,4,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Fibers and specialized loose materials designated by customs authorities</p></li></ul><p data-path-to-node="15" id="p-rc_0a21bb21eaa9f20c-179" style="font-family: "Google Sans Text", sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-197 citation-end-197" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Logistics managers and international exporters moving goods into Oman have been warned that non-compliant shipments arriving after the phase-in deadlines will face strict administrative penalties, including clearance refusals, severe demurrage surcharges, and mandatory return to the country of origin at the importer's expense.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c647700645="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c647700645="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="8" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> <span class="citation-196 citation-end-196" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Major ocean carriers, including Maersk and CMA CGM, have already issued trade advisories urging global clients to audit packaging protocols ahead of the September deadline.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c647700645="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c647700645="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="9" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2554013184="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"></sources-carousel-inline></p>
Oman Customs Issues Mandate Requiring Universal Palletization for Import Cargo
Enacted pursuant to Article 44 of the GCC Common Customs Law, the new policy establishes a standardized handling protocol across all Omani land, sea, and air gateways—including major maritime hubs such as the Port of Salalah, Sohar Port, and Duqm. The mandate aims to accelerate automated forklift handling, compress terminal inspection dwell times, and enhance end-to-end supply chain traceability for EXIM trade entering the GCC region.
