Esra Juma Said AL-anbari
With the rapidly growing local and global demand for safe and healthy food products, there is an urgent need for food establishments in the Sultanate of Oman to adopt international food safety standards. This is not merely an option, but a strategic necessity to ensure competitiveness and sustainability. Food safety management systems, most notably the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system and the ISO 22000 standard, serve as pivotal tools for enhancing operational efficiency and guaranteeing product quality and safety.
This research paper aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the strategic implications of implementing these systems. It will evaluate the opportunities and challenges faced by food establishments and assess their contribution towards advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study's methodology is based on a comparative analysis of the perspectives of both industry experts and employees within establishments that have implemented food safety management systems versus those in establishments that have not, using the state of Nizwa as a case study.