Required Report - public distribution

**Date:** 7/18/2005

**GAIN Report Number:** JO5003

JO5003

**Jordan**

**Biotechnology**

**Annual Report**

**2005**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Fred Giles

U.S. Embassy

**Prepared by:**

Hala Y. Khoury

**Report Highlights:**

Jordan does not have any agricultural biotechnology laws or regulations.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Amman \[JO1\]

\[JO\]

**SECTION I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY**

Jordan does not currently have any agricultural biotechnology laws or
regulations. Jordan's lack of technical ability to enforce biotech laws
precludes their passage. The benefits of biotechnology are not well
understood and the public is, in general, conservative and suspicious
about any biotechnology products.

# SECTION II. BIOTECHNOLOGY TRADE AND PRODUCTION

Barley and wheat are the only two crops produced in Jordan. In seasons
with adequate rainfall, Jordan produces only 10 percent of its
consumption. There are no resources devoted to biotechnology research or
commercialization.

Jordan's nascent dairy and poultry sectors import all their corn and
soybean meal requirements from the United States and other sources that
might use GM seeds. There is no testing mechanism to determine if such
feed contains modified organisms.

Jordan is a food aid recipient from the United States under PL 480 Tile
I, and wheat is the main commodity donated.

###### SECTION III. BIOTECHNOLOGY POLICY

There is no clear agricultural biotechnology framework. To date, no
biotech crops have been introduced or approved in the country.

The Ministry of Environment has issued regulations based on the
Cartegina Protocol, which entered into force in February 2004. The
regulations issued by the Ministry of Environment regulate trade in
biotech organisms, not biotech products.

A government division for organic farming was established in 2002 to
introduce this method of farming to the country. Several activities were
undertaken to create awareness among farmers, MOA staff and extension
agents. Organic farming regulations are being drafted. The Japanese
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) sponsored field demonstrations
on growing and producing organic olive oil.

Standards for the labeling of pre-packaged foods are regulated by the
Jordan Institution for Standards and Metrology (JISM) under regulation
JS 9:2001, passed in March 2001. The regulation is equivalent to the
Codex general standard for labeling prepackaged foods. The main clauses
in this standard are as follows:

Name of the food

List of ingredients

Net contents and drained weight

Name and address

Country of origin

Lot identification

Date marking and storage instructions

Instructions for use

Quantitative labeling of ingredients

Irradiated foods

Exemptions from mandatory labeling requirements

Optional labeling

Presentation of mandatory information

No trade barriers were imposed on any imported product. However, the
growing awareness of consumers about biotech may put future pressure on
the government to regulate and control this technology.

No legislation is in place or even drafted that might have any impact on
biotech products from the United States.

### SECTION IV. MARKETING ISSUES

Marketing of biotech crops in Jordan is prohibited. However, producers
are willing to harness biotechnology if its use increases profits. With
importers, the issue of profit will play a major role in their trade
decision. Consumers are expected to be highly reluctant to purchase such
products due to lack of knowledge and the availability of substitute
products. In addition, religious beliefs may play a critical role in
their decision making process.

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