Oman monitoring melon imports for bacterial contamination

Muscat: Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) revealed that it was monitoring all melon shipments coming into Oman.
The announcement comes in the wake of bacterial contamination being reported on a melon farm in Australia.
"The Ministry has instructed agricultural quarantine officials to obtain samples from every melon shipment that enters the Sultanate," an official statement by the ministry read.
The MAF statement added that the ministry was in touch with officials in Australia over the same.
"The ministry is closely following what is being reported regarding Australian melons. We are in contact with the proper authorities in Australia with regard to the source of bacterial contamination present in a particular, melon producing facility.
"This facility's products were exported to multiple countries, including the Sultanate," the statement added.
The ministry also said that the melon samples would be tested by relevant authorities before being released.
"These samples will be sent to be lab tested in coordination with the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources before they are released," the MAF statement said.