Ministerial Decision No. 37 of 2002 concerning the protection of date palms.

This Ministerial Decision is composed of 8 articles. The introduction of trees, date palm seedlings, coconut palms, ornamental trees and other palms, their fruit and vegetative parts is forbidden within the Sultanate (art. 1). The transportation of trees, seedlings and date palms from the Regions and Govenorates of Al Batinah, Dhahira, Musandam, Sharqiya, Dhofar, Al Wusta, Ad Dakhiliya and Muscat is banned. Prior permission is required from the Directorate General or to the authority concerned to farm in any of the Regions/Govenorates of Al Batinah, Dhahira, Musandam. Permission is also needed for the uprooting of trees, seedlings, or date palms for any reason. The uprooting and transportation of trees or seedlings of date palms outside the country is forbidden without prior agreement from the Directorate General of Agriculture in the Ministry (art. 4). Violators are to be punished according to article 4 of Royal Decree 31/98.