OMR 1000 fine to be imposed for producing food products with this compound in Oman

Muscat: An administrative fine of OMR 1000 will be imposed on anyone who produces, imports or markets food products to which titanium dioxide (E171) is added.

 His Excellency Dr. Saud bin Hamoud Al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources issued Ministerial Resolution No. 11/2023 amending some provisions of the Food Safety Regulations. It was decided to add a new item in the appendix of violations and administrative fines related to food safety.

The first article of the decision stipulates that an administrative fine of OMR 1,000 will be imposed on the production, import or marketing of food products to which titanium dioxide (E171) is added.

The 2nd article said that this decision shall take effect 6 months after the date of publication.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2), also known as E171, is very commonly used as a white colourant in food, but also in paints, coatings, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and even in toothpaste.

E171 is a mix of TiO2 particles which can be defined as nanoparticles. Because of their extremely small size, nanoparticles can squeeze through natural protective barriers of the human body and pass into the liver, lungs or the whole digestive system.