Now, Omani standard for dried dates

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) said it has completed the preparation to set an Omani standard specification for the dried dates.

The Omani standard specification draft project for packaged and unpacked dried dates aims at identifying the requirements for manufacturing, packaging, and preserving dried dates. This standard specification is not for dried dates that are used as animal fodder.

Safia bint Said Al-Hashemi, a technician of food products specifications in the Directorate General for standards and Metrology at MoCIIP said that the setting of an Omani standard specification for dried dates comes within the plan to set Omani standards in cooperation with the Palm Research Center at the Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries and Water Resources, the Industrial Innovation Center and all other authorities to preserve this kind of date industry.

She added that dried dates- (Bisoor)- are known as a product prepared from boiled dates or treated with hot steam and locally called (al-faghor) after cooked directly, where it will be soft and sweet in taste.

She pointed out that the Omani standard specification includes that they are produced from dates of the same variety, free from live insects, free of contamination of pathogenic microorganisms and must have the same distinctive taste characteristics of the variety, and are identical in color, shape, and size.

She added that the draft standard has classified the dried dates into three grades, which are excellent, first, and second degrees.