In the Sultanate of Oman, the following groups of traditional medicines are in the market:

- Chinese herbal medicines available through Chinese clinics;
- Indian herbal medicines available through Ayurvedic clinics;
- traditional homoeopathic medicines available through homoeopathic clinics; and
- traditional treatments of illnesses in villages or rural areas.

Until a new framework for regulatory control becomes available, which is expected in the near future, the few controls which exist are regulated by guidelines issued for import and traditional drugs in 1995. These guidelines state which documents have to be submitted to the Directorate General of Pharmaceutical Affairs and Drug Control to receive permission for marketing these products:

- free sale certificate issued by the country of origin together with a GMP certificate;

- labelling including active ingredients, quantitative composition, route of administration, date of manufacture and expiry, badge number, and storage conditions;

- a scientific report from the manufacturer indicating the origin of each ingredient, its pharmacological effect and therapeutic uses, side effects, adverse reactions, precautions, overdose effects and antidotes, and a list of countries where the product is marketed;

- a guarantee that the product does not contain other drugs such as corticosteroids, sex hormones, or impurities such as insect parts or other products [28].