3.100.  Imports of plants and plant products must be accompanied with phytosanitary certificates issued by the competent authorities of the exporting country. Imports of plants and their products are subject to quarantine requirements, as stipulated in Plant Quarantine Regulations No. Z/2 of 2003

3.101.  Jordan maintains maximum residue levels (MRLs) for hormones and for pesticides. The MRLs are established by the JSMO, in consultation with the JFDA and the Ministry of Agriculture. According to the authorities, the JSMO generally adopts MRLs that are consistent with international standards and recommendations, such as those established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission

3.102.  The Regulation for Biosafety of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) requires that all GMO products must be evaluated and approved by the National Biosafety Committee (NBC) before they can be imported into Jordan. Importation of genetically modified crops that are intended to release into the environment (for cultivation) is prohibited. However, importation of goods containing GMOs as ingredients is possible. The JFDA is responsible for regulating the safety of GMO foods and their products. GMO products must clearly be labelled with the phrase "genetically modified", and ingredients must be listed on the labels

3.103.  Testing and inspection at the border are conducted by Customs, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the JFDA. Inspection procedures are in accordance with International Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM), Codex, and national standards. The JFDA charges importers JOD 30 for the inspection and testing of each sample (physical, chemical, or microbiological test). Physical and sensory inspection is on the spot. Laboratory testing takes between 24 hours and 1 week. If a consignment is not in conformity with SPS requirements, it will be re-exported during a period specified by the Director-General of the JFDA (two months) or destroyed

3.104.  The Ministry of Agriculture is the national enquiry point and national notification authority for Jordan in the WTO SPS Committee. During the review period, Jordan notified 1 regular and 11 emergency measures. The authorities indicate that emergency measures continue to be valid until the affected country returns to risk-free status according to international standards (WOAH, International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), and Codex). The regular measure notification was on resuming importation of poultry and poultry products following an OIE standard.[124] Jordan also provided an addendum to its notified measure, providing additional information. The European Union reiterated its trade concern in the WTO SPS Committee about the BSE-related import restrictions on beef by a number of Members including Jordan.[125]

3.105.  Jordan is a member of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the WOAH, and a contracting party to the IPPC. The authorities state that SPS requirements in Jordan are based on international standards. According to the authorities, national standards and technical regulations comply completely with international standards in food safety and animal and plant health. In case there is any conflict between national requirements and international standards, international standards prevail

3.92.  During the review period, the legal framework concerning sanitary and phytosanitary measures in Jordan were overhauled. The Food Law No. 30 of 2015 entered into force on 16 June 2015, repealing the Food Control Law No. 7 of 1997; the Agriculture Law No. 13 of 2015 entered into force on 16 April 2015, repealing the previous Law on Agriculture No. 44 of 2002

3.93.  The Food Law No. 30 of 2015 set out the regulatory framework for food safety, establishing a range of requirements and standards to ensure food quality and safety; the JFDA is the competent authority for enforcing the Law, responsible for monitoring and inspecting food facilities to ensure compliance with food safety standards, investigating food safety incidents and outbreaks, and imposing penalties against violation of food safety regulations. The Food Law established a traceability principle, requiring businesses to maintain full records to ensure that food products can be traced from field to fork

3.94.  Import of food products are subject to a licensing requirement. Import licences for special food and dietary supplements and for food additives are automatic; importation of formula milk powders, baby food, and complementary foods is subject to non-automatic licensing. Importers must apply to the JFDA for licences

3.95.  The JFDA operates a Jordan Electronic National Food Safety Information System (JENFSIS) to track and control the safety of food products. JENFSIS tracks information about ingredients, production processes, storage conditions, and distribution channels, allowing the monitoring of food safety and quality parameters (e.g. pesticide and hormone residues, and microbial contamination). JENFSIS also allows for the rapid exchange of information between government agencies responsible for food safety, including the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture

3.96.  The new Agriculture Law No. 13 of 2015 modernized the regulatory framework for animals and animal products, as well as for plants and plant products. The Law provides quality control measures for agricultural products to ensure compliance with the established quality standards; the Law also aims to promote sustainable agriculture and protect the environment

3.97.  Under Agriculture Law No. 13 of 2015, the Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for setting import regulations and standards for animal and animal products. Imports of animals and animal products are subject to non-automatic licensing by the Ministry. Imports must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate issued in the country of origin. In the case of importing animal products as food, a food safety certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country is also required. Meat imports must be sourced from establishments pre-approved by the Ministry

3.98.  Imports of live animals or their products are subject to quarantine procedures, which include risk assessment studies before importation, pre- and post-import quarantine. Veterinary quarantine procedures are stipulated in Veterinary Quarantine Regulations No. Z/21 of 2018, in accordance with Articles 46, 50, and 51 of Agriculture Law No. 13 of 2015. Exceptions from quarantine requirements may be granted for shipments from exporting countries or regions with disease-free status according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE)

3.99.  The regulatory framework for plants and plant products is similar to the one for animals and animal products. Importers must apply for an import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture prior to the shipment departing from the country of origin. Imports permits are administered through licensing. Automatic licensing is applicable for fresh fruits and vegetables, potatoes, onions and garlic, saplings of fruit seedlings, ornamental plants and cut flowers, honey, natural beeswax, and pollen. Others are subject to non-automatic licensing

3.80.  During the review period, the legal and institutional framework for standards and technical regulations remained largely unchanged. The principal legislation remains the Standards and Metrology Law No. 22 of 2000; the Law was amended twice in 2015 and 2019, with an aim to improve the standards infrastructure in Jordan and to enhance protection of consumers' health and safety. The amendments included new provisions on market surveillance, re‑exporting of non‑conforming products out of Jordan, conformity mark and legal metrology, and penalties and sanctions

3.81.  The JSMO remains the national standardization body responsible for developing, promoting, and implementing standards and metrology activities. The JSMO also is the enquiry point of TBT issues for Jordan in the WTO. During the review period, Jordan did not submit any notifications to the TBT Committee; its last notification on standards and technical regulations was submitted in September 2012.[118] There was no specific trade concern about Jordanian TBT measures raised in the TBT Committee

3.82.  Any interested party, including foreign parties[119], may submit proposals for national standards to the JSMO. Draft standards are prepared by various technical committees and published on the JSMO's website for comments for 60 days. If comments are received, the draft is sent back to the technical committee for review; the final draft is then forwarded to the JSMO Board of Directors for approval and becomes an official standard. The authorities state that the JSMO makes extensive references to international standards when formulating standards. After the JSMO Board of Directors approves the proposed standard, six months is usually given between the final publication and entry into force

3.83.  The JSMO is authorized to decide whether to approve national standards and technical regulations. Technical regulations may also be issued by other government bodies such as the Ministry of Environment, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, and the Ministry of Health. The authorities indicate that only standards directly affecting human health and safety, environmental protection, and national security are deemed mandatory (i.e. designated as technical regulations). As of end-2022, there were 737 technical regulations in force, 105 of which were adopted during the review period, covering, inter alia, bottled water and mineral water, sports and recreational devices and equipment, photovoltaic systems, and building materials. The authorities note that 70% of total technical regulations in force are aligned to international standards or regional standards

3.84.  Although most of the technical regulations in force in Jordan are design-based, the authorities note that Jordan since 2010 has explored formulating performance-based technical regulations under the "New Approach" where applicable. As of end-2022, the technical regulations for toys, electrical appliances, and gas appliances are formulated under the "New Approach"

3.85.  Jordan is a member of several international standards organizations, including a member body of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO); an associate member of the International Electro-technical Committee (IEC); a companion standardization body within the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC); a member in Codex Alimentarius; and an associated member of the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML)

3.86.  Products subject to technical regulations are required for conformity assessment procedures commensurate with the level of risk associated with them. The authorities are of a view that self‑declaration of conformity is not sufficient even for products deemed to have medium risk. Conformity certificates must be issued by the JSMO, or by a Jordanian‑accredited conformity assessment body. The Jordanian Accreditation System (JAS) is administered by the Accreditation Unit under the JSMO and is recognized by the Arab Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). As of end-2022, there were 101 Jordanian laboratories accredited by the JAS

3.87.  Imported products are subject to inspection, sampling, and testing when necessary, at the border. Importers may have their import consignments tested inside Jordan, when necessary, if they fail to submit conformity certificates or test reports prior shipment arrival. These documents must be issued by conformity assessment bodies accredited by accreditation bodies that are Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) signatories of the ILAC/IAF (International Accreditation Forum).[120] Based on the risk profiling by ASYCUDA, import consignments may be subject to invasive physical inspection. In the case of inspection, the JSMO charges a fee of JOD 10 for goods with a value no higher than JOD 1,000, and JOD 20 for goods with a value above JOD 1,000. The JSMO maintains a Complying Trader Programme, separate from the Golden List Program by Jordan Customs, that provides less frequent inspections on consignments with registered importers dependent on their status.[121]

3.88.  Locally produced goods also are subject to inspection, sampling, and testing when necessary. Market surveillance is carried out by the JSMO's Inspection Department. According to the authorities, market surveillance prevents under-quality products and trademark counterfeits from circulating in the market.[122] Under the Consumer Protection Law No. 7 of 2017, the JSMO has the authority to sanction firms for misrepresentation or false advertising

3.89.  A product that has corresponding national standard may apply to JSMO for a Jordan Quality Mark (JQM). A foreign producer also may apply for a JQM for its products. The JQM is a voluntary system for ensuring the quality of products. The JQM certificate is valid for three years, covering all products except for pharmaceuticals and veterinary products. The authorities note that Jordan has not yet introduced the requirement for compliance marking

3.90.  Labelling and packaging requirements are issued as technical regulations and voluntary standards. Labelling for food and toys must be in Arabic; for other products the label is in Arabic and/or English. The amended law allows importers to modify the label of non‑conforming products to comply with labelling requirements.[123]

3.91.  For Halal food, labels are in Arabic, or in any other language optionally together with Arabic. Where a food product contains components of fat, meat products or meat extracts, gelatine, and rennet, this content of animal origin must be illustrated and listed on the label. When using the mark "Halal" on the product, the certificate number and the certification body should be stated on the product