Table 6: Pros and cons of various paths towards organic certification in Oman.

	Option	Benefits/Pros	Downsides/Cons	Comments
A.	Use out-of-country, established, international third-party organic certification organizations.	The option exists now. Once certified, entry to international markets (USA, EU, etc.) is available.	Costs are expensive. Some inspectors are not familiar with farming methods in Oman.	Currently: One-Cert (from USA and India) and ECOE (from Egypt) certify farms in Oman.
B.	Establish an “Oman Certified Organic Label” (must follow international standards and create third party inspection).	Models exist in other countries. It can be affordable for Omani farmers.	In-country certification only valid for local markets (in Oman), unless also accredited by an international certifier. It takes time to implement and needs organizational support.	The UAE and Saudi Arabia have implemented national organic labels and regulations. GCC set of standards was created in 2014 and could be used in Oman [97].
C.	Create an Oman organic “Participatory Guarantee System” (PGS) using international standards and grower participation.	PGS is less expensive than most third-party organic certification systems. It includes the growers directly in implementing and enforcing compliance with standards.	Would not be recognized outside of Oman. Relies on grower volunteers and high mutual trust to follow standards. It takes time to develop and implement. It requires a strong leadership and grower organization.	The Omani farmers association would be the right candidate for this.
D.	Create and promote a new “eco-label.”	Many companies have developed alternative labels to organic, e.g., “eco” and “fair trade.” These appeal to consumers and are generally not as expensive.	“Self-certified” labels or product claims compete in the marketplace with certified organic; this confuses consumers. Without a third party or other verification, the labels mean nothing and eventually erode consumer confidence.	Some alternative claims can be backed up with third-party verification, e.g. “Fair Trade.” These labels could have meaning if there is government backing for verification.
E.	No regulation or official label for organic. No control over who uses the organic label.	All labels can compete in the marketplace.	There is no agreement about what “organic” means; no protection for the consumer. Without regulation, there is no penalty for misuse of the term.	This is the current situation in Oman.