The Health and Social Affairs Committee at the Shura Council held its first meeting between the Third and Fourth Ordinary Sessions of the Tenth Term (2023–2027) this morning (Monday), during which it discussed a number of draft laws referred by the Government to the Council for review.
The Committee opened its meeting by discussing the draft Environmental Law referred to the Council by the Government, reviewing the rationale and objectives underpinning the proposed legislation, alongside its general structure and the provisions and regulations it contains, in light of the need to develop the legislative framework governing environmental affairs in the Sultanate of Oman.
The meeting also addressed the anticipated legislative impact of the draft Environmental Law on the body of laws currently in force in the Sultanate of Oman, by examining the extent to which the draft's provisions align with relevant existing legislation, and the amendments or effects its enactment might have on a number of laws and regulations in force, thereby contributing to legislative coherence and avoiding any conflict or duplication in the provisions governing the environmental sector.
In a related context, the Committee discussed the draft Civil Defence and Ambulance Law referred to it by the Government, holding extensive discussions covering the various aspects of the draft law, in preparation for completing its review and discussing its provisions and legislative foundations in accordance with the Committee's mandate.
The honourable Committee Members were also briefed during the meeting on the draft Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, and the frameworks and standards it sets out for ship recycling operations, taking into account safety requirements, environmental protection, and the mitigation of environmental impacts arising from ship dismantling and recycling operations.
The Committee also reviewed, during the meeting, the memorandum received regarding the preparation of work plans for the Council's standing committees, as part of organising the Committee's work and defining its priorities and programmes for the coming session, ensuring that work plans are aligned with the legislative, social and health issues and topics falling within its mandate.


The meeting forms part of the efforts of the Health and Social Affairs Committee at the Shura Council to follow up on the files referred to it and review them comprehensively, by examining their legislative and regulatory dimensions and hearing relevant views, with a view to formulating the observations, views and recommendations to be submitted in accordance with the procedures set out under the Council of Oman Law.
The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Hamed Sawakhiroun, Chairman of the Health and Social Affairs Committee at the Shura Council, and attended by the honourable Committee Members.