Is Barbiturates legal in Oman?

Legal status

Barbiturates are controlled psychotropic substances under Oman's Royal Decree 17/99 (Law on Combating Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, amended RD 34/2015 and RD 24/2023), implementing 1971 Convention Schedules II–IV (phenobarbital Schedule IV, secobarbital Schedule II, amobarbital/pentobarbital Schedule III); phenobarbitone is named in the Oman MoH Controlled Drug policy. As a lower medicinal-tier substance it sits below the drugs to which capital sentences are applied in practice; the statutory capital reach (Article 43) to this tier, and any quantity threshold, are left to confirmation.

Consequences if caught

Producing, importing, exporting or trafficking a scheduled drug under Royal Decree 17/99 carries the death penalty or life imprisonment plus a fine exceeding OMR 25,000 (Article 43); RD 34/2015 removed the former 50 kg weight threshold. Unauthorized possession or use draws imprisonment and fines, with deportation for non-nationals.

If prescribed or medical

Phenobarbital and other barbiturate medicines are prescribable in Oman only as Controlled Drugs; importing them requires an Omani MoH (Drug Control) permit plus a medical report issued within the last 6 months (diagnosis, scientific drug name, dose, duration), capped at one month's supply; internally the CD prescription is valid 3 days (green prescription for this tier).

Documentation

Bring prior Omani MoH / Drug Control Department approval and a medical report or prescription issued within the last 6 months bearing an institutional stamp, plus a passport copy; the approved quantity is capped at one month's supply (or length of stay, whichever is less), with any excess destroyed under Drug Control Department supervision.

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Oman’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.