Required Report - public distribution

**Date:** 11/21/2005

**GAIN Report Number:** JO5006

**Jordan**

**Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards**

**Country Report**

**2005**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Asif J. Chaudhry

U.S. Embassy

**Prepared by:**

Hala Y. Khoury/Mohamed Khraishy

**Report Highlights:**

This report covers updates to Jordan\'s food and agricultural import
regulations and standards.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Annual Report

Amman \[JO1\]

\[JO\]

Tables of Contents

[JORDAN: FOOD IMPORT REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS
3](#jordan-food-import-regulations-and-standards)

[SECTION I. FOOD LAWS 3](#section-i.-food-laws)

[SECTION II. LABELING REQUIREMENTS
4](#section-ii.-labeling-requirements)

[SECTION III. PACKAGING AND CONTAINER REGULATIONS
4](#section-iii.-packaging-and-container-regulations)

[SECTION IV. FOOD ADDITIVE REGULATIONS
4](#section-iv.-food-additive-regulations)

[SECTION V. PESTICIDE AND OTHER CONTAMINATES
5](#section-v.-pesticide-and-other-contaminates)

[SECTION VI. OTHER REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
5](#section-vi.-other-regulations-and-requirements)

[SECTION VII. OTHER SPECIFIC STANDARDS
5](#section-vii.-other-specific-standards)

[SECTION VIII. COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK LAWS
6](#section-viii.-copyright-and-trademark-laws)

[SECTION IX. IMPORT PROCEDURES 6](#section-ix.-import-procedures)

[CUSTOMS VALUATION: 6](#customs-valuation)

[IMPORT TAXES AND OTHER RELATED FEES:
7](#import-taxes-and-other-related-fees)

[Import / Export Documentation 8](#import-export-documentation)

[Special Import Provisions 8](#special-import-provisions)

[APPENDIX I. GOVERNMENT REGULATORY AGENCY CONTACTS
9](#appendix-i.-government-regulatory-agency-contacts)

[APPENDIX II: OTHER IMPORT SPECIALIST CONTACTS
10](#appendix-ii-other-import-specialist-contacts)

# JORDAN: FOOD IMPORT REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS

DISCLAIMER: the Agricultural Trade Office of the USDA/Foreign
Agricultural Service in Amman, Jordan has prepared this report for U.S.
exporters of domestic food and agricultural products. While every
possible care has been taken in the preparation of this report, the
information provided might be dated, as some import requirements are
subject to frequent change. It is highly recommended that U.S. exporters
ensure that all necessary customs clearance requirements have been
verified with local authorities through your foreign importer before the
sale conditions are finalized. FINAL IMPORT APPROVAL OF ANY PRODUCT IS
ALWAYS SUBJECT TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS AS INTERPRETED BY THE
COUNTRY OF IMPORT AT THE TIME OF PRODUCT ENTRY.

# SECTION I. FOOD LAWS

Jordan has been a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since
2000, the accession to membership coincided with structural reforms,
both economic and legislative, reforms to match international standards
and requirement. As a result, the current food control regime in Jordan
falls under two laws: The Agriculture Law No. 44 of 2002 and Jordanian
Food Control Law No. 32 of 2003 which were adopted at the Aqaba Special
Economic Customs Center in May 2002 and at Amman Customs Center in
January 2004. Food products are classified in three tiers according to
the associated health risk.

Inspection criteria will be codified into a computerized system. This
system will be applied at all border centers once the infrastructure for
these centers is completed. Imported agricultural and food products are
inspected by a border committee comprised of representatives from the
following agencies: -

-   The Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA:
    [www.jfda.jo](http://www.jfda.jo/)),

-   Ministry of Agriculture (MoA:
    [www.moa.gov.jo](http://www.moa.gov.jo/)),

-   The Jordan Institute for Standards and Metrology (JISM
    [www.jism.gov.jo](http://www.jism.gov.jo/)),

-   Customs department
    ([www.customs.gov.jo](http://www.customs.gov.jo/)).

The criteria and the levels of inspection are based on three categories:
high, medium and low risk.

-   High-risk products 80 -- 100 percent inspection

-   Medium risk products 25 -- 50 percent inspection

-   Low risk products 5 -- 10 percent inspection

In all cases a document review is mandatory regardless of the category
or level of inspection.

Importers are required to insure for any human health hazards associated
with trade in a form of microbial, parasitical and fungal contamination.
Import consignments are routinely tested for radiation levels and
chemical contaminants, including heavy metals, hormones and residue from
medicines. Food additives are determined by testing. Less frequent
testing is done for pesticide residues.

Importers of drugs, including vaccines and sera for human use and food
are required to meet Ministry of Health's technical regulations.
Importers of veterinary medicines, sera, vaccines, pesticides, meat,
fertilizer, animal feed, and seedlings is require to meet Ministry of
Agriculture technical regulations. A committee comprising officials from
JISM, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and the
customs department carry out inspections of food and agriculture
products at the border, Jordan applies internationally recognized
standards when these are available.

Monitoring of imported food for compliance with Jordan's technical
regulations and other international standards is done on a risk-based
system.

# SECTION II. LABELING REQUIREMENTS 

A.  Labeling requirements are set by the Institute of Standards and
    Metrology.

> Legal requirements for labeling are fairly standard although a
> statement of ingredients in order of preponderance is not required.
> All labels must either be in Arabic or have a stick-on label in
> Arabic. In general, the label should contain the name of the product,
> the manufacturer's name and address, net weight, fortifying matter
> (like added vitamins and minerals to powder milk), lot number and "use
> before" or "best before" date. Local labeling requirements do not
> include Recommended Daily Intake (RDIs).

Shelf life: This requirement was replaced by the -"Best Before"-
standard.

B. Nutritional labeling is mandatory in certain categories of food
including infant formula, food for dietary use, etc.

Web-site: [www.jism.gov.jo](http://www.jism.gov.jo/)

Please refer to contact information in APPENDIX II

# SECTION III. PACKAGING AND CONTAINER REGULATIONS 

No specific restrictions are applied to the type of packaging used. No
restrictions are applied to either packaging or container type at the
Port of Aqaba (Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority
<http://www.aqabazone.com/>). However, a maximum weight restriction of
30.5 tons is applied to the discharging of the container at the gantry
crane of 30.5 tons. Units weighing more than 30.5 tons will be
discharged using shore cranes.

There is no special municipal waste disposal law at the port. In case
cargo needs to be disposed of, an application is filed at the concerned
department at the port (i.e. customs, environment), and the request is
approved or rejected according to the type of cargo and its expected
damage to the environment (Ministry of Environment
[http://www.moenv.gov.jo](http://www.moenv.gov.jo/)).

# SECTION IV. FOOD ADDITIVE REGULATIONS 

Food additives are regulated by JISM and JFDA. In general, permissible
additives and their concentrations are those approved by the *Codex
Alimentarius* Commission. However, the technical standards for foods
contain specific lists for food additive and their permissible levels of
use. These standards should be consulted to make sure that additives are
permitted.

Please refer to contact information in APPENDIX II

# SECTION V. PESTICIDE AND OTHER CONTAMINATES 

Pesticides in Jordan are regulated by Ministry of Agriculture (MoA
[www.moa.gov.jo](http://www.moa.gov.jo/)), Plant Protection Directorate/
Pesticides Division, each imported pesticide shall be analyzed for
conformity in composition and concentration, using the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) standards if it is
an agricultural pesticide, and using the World Health Organization (WHO)
if it is a public health pesticide.

Pesticides residue in the food chain in Jordan is a sensitive issue.
There is only one laboratory in Jordan that is capable of testing for
pesticide residues in fresh fruits and vegetables, and its turn-around
time is about two weeks. Therefore, it is not possible to test fresh
products and get a result before the fresh products are consumed.
However, non-perishable local and imported agricultural products may be
tested for pesticide residue. The technical standards for food and
agricultural products require that a pesticide residue does not exceed
the recommended maximum residue levels of the *Codex Alimentarius*
Commission.

# SECTION VI. OTHER REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Any imported agricultural or food product may be inspected and tested to
ensure that it is fit for human consumption. Virtually all prepared and
mixed foods are tested at the border.

The JFDA has the authority to inspect food products at the retail and
wholesale distribution levels. A representative may enter any place and
collect samples for testing. If a product fails to meet technical
requirements or is found unfit for human consumption, it is removed from
distribution channels and destroyed.

# SECTION VII. OTHER SPECIFIC STANDARDS 

Jordan Institution for Standards and Metrology (JISM) is the official
body for the preparation and publication of Jordanian Standards. The
main tasks of JISM are to (i) prepare, approve, revise and amend
Jordanian mandatory or voluntary standards and monitor their
application; (ii) maintain a national system for metrology and supervise
its implementation; (iii) approve quality marks and certificates of
conformity; (v) adopt and approve standards of other countries and of
Arab, regional and international organizations, provided that such
standards were issued in Arabic or English; and (vi) to cooperate and
coordinate with Arab, regional and international institutions in the
area of standardization and metrology. JISM is a participating member of
the Arab Organization for Industrial Development and Mining (AIDMO), a
corresponding member of the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO), a corresponding member of the International
Organization for Legal Metrology (OIML), and a contact point for the
Codex Alimentarius Commission.

All imported foods should conform to the Jordanian standards issued by
JISM. All agricultural products may be imported by the private sector
(with the exception of wheat and barley) if the products meet local
quality standards, which are set by JISM on the basis of the *Codex
Alimentarius*
([http://www.codexalimentarius.net](http://www.codexalimentarius.net/),
[www.jism.gov.jo](http://www.jism.gov.jo/)). In 2003, JISM instituted a
pre-shipment inspection program, which is entirely voluntary for food
importers. Import licenses are not required for most imported goods.
Some products require prior approval from either the Ministry of
Agriculture or the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Agricultural products
for which prior approval is required from the Ministry of Agriculture
are live animals, fresh, chilled and frozen meat and frozen animal
semen, and powdered milk for adults and babies.

Ministry of Agriculture requires a prior approval as a condition to
ensure that the animals and animal products meet local health standards
issued by JISM. The importation of special flour and powdered milk for
manufacturing purposes is subject to prior approval from the Ministry of
Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture. Importation of rice,
sugar, and wheat derivatives has been liberalized. The private sector
may import these items into Jordan if prevailing customs duties and
taxes are paid, and the product meets local quality standards. Alcoholic
beverages may be imported into Jordan, but high tariffs are applied
(50‑180 percent) -- as a revenue source for the government

# SECTION VIII. COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK LAWS

The legal system facilitates and protects the acquisition and
disposition of all property rights.

Prior to its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Jordan
passed several new laws to improve the protection of intellectual
property rights (IPR), patents, copyrights and trademarks. TRIPS (Trade
Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights)-consistent laws now
protect trade secrets, plant varieties and semiconductor chip designs.
The law requires registration of copyrights, patents and trademarks.
Copyrights must be registered at the National Library, part of the
Ministry of Culture. Patents must be registered with the Registrar of
Patents and Trademarks at the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Jordan is
in the process of acceding to the Patent Cooperation Treaty and to the
protocol relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the registration of
marks by the end of 2004, but Jordan parliament did not address the
legislations issue yet.

Jordan is a full member of World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO) since May 24, 2004, and a full member of Union for the Protection
of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), since October 24, 2004.

# SECTION IX. IMPORT PROCEDURES 

As a member of the WTO, Jordan must reduce its import tariff ceiling to
20 percent. Under the terms of the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement
(FTA), import duties and other trade barriers between Jordan and the
United States must be phased out by 2010, with tariffs less than 5
percent having already been eliminated. Companies operating in the
Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZs) gain quota and duty-free access to
the U.S. market and benefit from special import provisions for raw
inputs (<http://www.justrade.jo/>) also see
([[www.customs.gov.jo](http://www.customs.gov.jo/)).]{.smallcaps}

# CUSTOMS VALUATION:

The customs law of 1999 was amended in March 2000 to include
GATT-compliant criteria for customs valuation (which is based on
certified invoices) and to make the valuation process more transparent.
The law restricts customs officers' mandate to use arbitrary valuation
but still rewards those who uncover invoice misreporting and imposes
penalties on importers.

The customs valuation price is CIF-based. The value of the imported good
is converted into JD at the official central bank exchange rate (1 JD =
USD 1.41). In some cases, invoice or export discounts have been included
in the valuation by the customs department. Still, the exporter should
consult the local importer to determine how to best grant any such
discounts or rebates
([[www.customs.gov.jo]{.smallcaps}](http://www.customs.gov.jo/)).

# IMPORT TAXES AND OTHER RELATED FEES:

Custom tariffs are based on the Harmonized System coding practice. Under
the terms of the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the majority of
tariffs are to be phased out over a 10-year period (year one being
2001.) The tariff schedule may be accessed at the following web site:
([www.customs.gov.jo](http://www.customs.gov.jo/)).

Imported products and locally produced goods are subject to a 16 percent
value-added tax (VAT).

The VAT on imported products is based on the cost, insurance, and
freight (CIF) value at the border. Goods such as pharmaceutical products
and agricultural goods are exempt from the 16 percent sales tax. There
is a special sales tax that applies to specific items such as, but not
limited to, vehicles, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages and
lubricants. The tax rate on these items varies. Tobacco products and
alcoholic beverages are subject to a 13 percent general sales tax in
addition to the special sales tax. Non-basic foodstuffs are subject to a
4 percent general sales tax. For a complete description of these
commodities and detailed lists of the general and special sales tax,
please visit Jordan's General Sales Tax Department's website at
[www.gst.gov.jo](http://www.gst.gov.jo/).

Import licenses are required for imports of:

\- Non-commercial shipments exceeding JD 2,000 in value

\- Biscuits of all types

\- Mineral water

\- Dried milk for industry

-   Items requiring prior clearance from specific authorities (for a
    complete list, see "**special import provisions**" below)

Goods entering the country under temporary entry status, bonded goods
and goods benefiting from the investment promotion law are exempt from
import licenses (refer to www.jordaninvestment.com).

All Jordanian and foreign trading companies must obtain an importer's
card from the Ministry of Industry and Trade for customs clearance
purposes. At the Ministry, a complete and updated list of all import
requirements and provisions is periodically issued. For non-trading
entities such as banks, hospitals and hotels, the ministry issues a
special, "limited" card that allows the import of goods specific to that
entity's purpose.

#### Import / Export Documentation 

According to Article 31 of the Customs Law of 1998 and its amendments,
every customs declaration must include the following:

\- Maritime or air bill of lading.

\- Commercial invoice indicating value, weight, freight and insurance
charges etc. All invoices should be notarized by the Jordanian
diplomatic mission in the country of origin. Certification by the local
chamber of commerce is sufficient, subject to the approval of the
customs department director, in cases where a Jordanian consulate is not
available.

\- A notarized certificate of origin issued by the relevant authority in
the exporter\'s local area.

\- Value declaration form for shipments exceeding JD 2,000 (USD 2,820).

The customs department may request other documents related to the
shipment as needed.

All invoices should describe the imported goods in Arabic.

Jordan Customs developed and launched the Customs Integrated Tariff
System (CITS) in Aug/2005; Web site:
[http://www.customs.gov.jo](http://www.customs.gov.jo/) to assist
importers.

Importers can use this system to track down commodity tariffs, import
conditions and commodity trade agreements, for example to find out
custom tariffs for Apples imported from USA in July under Jordan--USA
FTA agreement - log into the CITS system for information pertaining to
commodity trade, customs and tariff and commercial agreements as well as
the governmental requirements for these commodities from the ministries
and departments, if you apply the June US Apples example, you'll find
that trade between USA and Jordan enjoy preferential treatment of lower
customs tariff while in June you have to pay extra *advalorim* fee, and
you need the approval of Ministry of Agriculture to import apples.

The (CITS) System allows an importer to review all regulations and
requirements of the commodity trade; and increases coordination between
the ministries and departments involved with imports, exports and
transshipments. A USAID-AMIR Program funds this project.

This (CITS) system will provide information on the trade activity and
mechanisms of searching for goods through the Customs Tariff Tables, the
trade agreements, coding decisions, proclamations, circulations and
requirements related to the Customs Tariff Harmonized System.

All (CITS) system information is in Arabic while the English version is
expected to be active by March 2006.

#### Special Import Provisions 

Pre-import clearance is required for certain goods. The clearance, once
obtained, acts as an import license. However, these clearances are not
automatic.

The relevant pre-import license-issuing agency and the respective goods
include:

Ministry of Industry and Trade (these are given out in the form of
import licenses): rice, flour and its by-products, sugar, wheat, barely
and corn;

Ministry of Agriculture: frozen animal semen, live animals, fresh/frozen
meat, embalmed wild animals, imported milk products from countries
engaged in bilateral trade protocols with Jordan;

Ministry of Health: all types of medical drugs and antibiotics, food
supplements for athletes, potassium bromide, food dyes, asbestos pipes
and panels, frozen ice cream, baby food and milk, laser pens, oxygen and
nitrogen oxide and other medical equipment.

If a shipment is rejected, there is an appeal system and this is subject
to the approval of the ministry under which the rejection took place.

# APPENDIX I. GOVERNMENT REGULATORY AGENCY CONTACTS

Jordan Food & Drug Directorate

Tel: (962-6) 4612663

Fax: (962-6) 4612663

Web-site: [www.jfda.jo](http://www.jfda.jo/)

Ministry of Industry and Trade

Tel: (962-6) 560-7191/5663774

Fax: (962-6) 560-4691

Web-site: [www.mit.gov.jo](http://www.mit.gov.jo/)

Ministry of Agriculture

Veterinary Services Directorate

OR

Plant Protection Directorate

Tel: (962-6) 5686151

Fax: (962-6) 5686310

Web-site: [www.moa.gov.jo](http://www.moa.gov.jo/)

Jordan Institute of Standards and Metrology

Tel: (962-6) 5680139

Fax: (962-6) 5681099

Web-site: [www.jism.gov.jo](http://www.jism.gov.jo/)

Jordan Customs Department

P.O.Box 90, Amman, Jordan

Tel: (962-6) 462-3186/8; 462-4394/6

Fax: (962-6) 464-7791

E-mail: <Customs@Customs.gov.jo>

Web-site: [http://www.customs.gov.jo](http://www.customs.gov.jo/)

Ministry of Environment

Tel: + (962-6) 5560113

Fax: + (962-6) 5560288

Web-site: <http://www.moenv.gov.jo/>

Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority **\
**P.O.Box 2565**,** Aqaba 77110, Jordan**\
**Tel: + (962-6) 3 203 5757/8**\
**Fax: + (962-6) 3 203 0912

Web-site: <http://www.aqabazone.com/>

# 

# APPENDIX II: OTHER IMPORT SPECIALIST CONTACTS 

For further help, please contact the Office of Agricultural Affairs,
American Embassy, POBox 354, Amman, Jordan, Phone: (962-6) 5906056, Fax:
(962-6) 5920146, [E- mail:Mohamed.khraishy@usda.gov]{.underline}