MoD issues regulations on use of arms and explosives

MUSCAT, MAY 26 - The Ministry of Defence has issued regulations with regard to obtaining licence to use arms, ammunition and explosives for non-military or security purposes. According to the regulations, the applicant for a licence should not have been convicted of a crime, he/she should not be affiliate with any country or institution that are banned from import and export in accordance with local or international decisions. The licence does not include materials which can be re-exported to a banned country or institution.

“The application for the possession of arms, ammunitions and explosives should be presented to the Assistant Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces for Planning and Operations,” says the statement. The licence may be issued for any of the purposes of entry, export, re-export, temporary pass and exit of the aforementioned items. The licence also specifies the quantities of the same as well as the outlets through which they can be imported, exported or re-exported.

The licensee should specify the location where these items would be stored. The duration for the validity of the licence is determined in accordance with their types and quantity. The licence may be cancelled in case that the arms are used by someone other than the licensee without a prior permission from the Ministry of Defence or in the case that the licensee did not comply with the general regulations or in case of using these items in a way that threatens security or causes damage to the environment.