Market & legal data in the tobacco alternatives sector in Jordan

23rd October 2024: Jordan: Today, the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products enters into force, as shown in our compliance calendar. Minister of health Firas Al-Hawari said the treaty will enhance the effectiveness of health policies and help to end the illicit tobacco trade in all its forms, including production, possession, distribution, selling and purchasing.
18th October 2024: Jordan: The Cabinet, based on the recommendation of the Economic Modernisation and Development Committee of the Customs Authority, has issued a decision to create a new sub-clause in the customs tariff for tobacco products intended for inhalation through electronic or electrical devices that have not been fully manufactured and have been imported by factories as production inputs. According to the decision, these products are now subject to an import duty at a rate of 75%.
13th September 2024: Jordan: Yesterday (12th September), the government issued system 62/2024, amending the Special Tax System 80/2000. Under the new amendments, heated tobacco products (HTPs) are now subject to a tax of up to JOD0.90 ($1.27) per 20 sticks, while heated tobacco devices are subject to tax at a rate of JOD20 ($28) per unit. The amendments entered into force immediately.
29th August 2024: Jordan: The Ministry of Health announced it will be launching a campaign in September to ensure that retailers, premises and institutions are complying with the advertising and marketing restrictions on tobacco products as well as the public use restrictions.
1st August 2024: Jordan: Jordan officially ratified the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products on 25th July. The country’s accession to this protocol will enter into force on 23rd October. Minister of health Firas Al-Hawari said the ratification of the treaty would enhance the effectiveness of health policies and help to end the illicit tobacco trade in all its forms, including production, possession, distribution, selling and purchasing, press reports.
6th June 2024: Jordan: Adel Al Balbisi, head of the Jordan Centre for Disease Control (JCDC), announced that the centre has begun adopting new measures to combat tobacco use among youth, including refusing to grant retail licences to retailers operating within 250 m of schools, press reports. Al Balbisi said the centre’s long-term goal is to protect youth from tobacco addiction and the tobacco industry’s “aggressive marketing strategies”.
13th November 2023: Jordan: Prime minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh issued a decision to enforce compliance with law 47/2008 on Public Health prohibiting smoking, vaping and heated tobacco use in public places, press reports. The decision also directs ministries, institutions, and government departments to enforce public usage restrictions by establishing effective controls, monitoring compliance, and enforcing penalties against violators.
5th May 2023: Jordan: In response to a query from the deputy prime minister for economic affairs on the possibility of allowing the establishment of tobacco factories in the customs-free zones, the minister of industry, trade and supply – Yousef El Shamali – said in an official statement that his ministry supports the establishment of such tobacco factories. This is on the condition that they are licensed outside the free-trade zones, that Jordanian nationals are employed, and that factories obtain the necessary approvals from the Food and Drug Authority, and the Standards and Metrology authority for their products, press reports.
9th January 2023: Jordan: Representative Talal El-Nesour has called on a parliamentary session to increase the taxes on tobacco to finance costly gas and fuel bills, local press reports. It’s worth noting that Jordan levies an excise tax on heated tobacco and e-cigarettes at a rate of 200%.
7th November 2022: Jordan: The World Health Organization (WHO)’s director of the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases Office in Jordan, Hala Bou Kardana, expressed the organisation’s concern over the high rate of tobacco use in Jordan, highlighting that e-cigarettes may be worse than regular cigarettes, since no studies have addressed their long-term effects, press reports. Furthermore, Bou Kardana urged a hike in tobacco taxes, pointing out that Jordan has one of the highest rates of tobacco usage in the world, with 66% of males over 18 smoking cigarettes and 16.5% using alternative nicotine products.
12th September 2022: Jordan: Today, 12th September, the House of Representatives approved the Child Rights bill. The new law considers smoking in the presence of children, even by parents or other family members, an attack on their health and physical well-being. The law dictates fines ranging from JOD100 ($140) to JOD300 ($425) for smoking or vaping in front of children. The use of tobacco, whether it is smoked, sucked, chewed or inhaled, is considered a category of smoking according to Public Health Law No. 47/2008 and the “standards for tobacco and nicotine products, including electronic ones”.
21st July 2022: Jordan: The House of Representatives has referred a government-drafted bill of child rights to a joint committee of the Women and Family Affairs Committee and the Legal Committee. The bill proposes fines ranging from JOD 100 ($140) to JOD 300 ($420) for smoking or using other forms of tobacco in front of children, including by parents or family members. Under Public Health Law No. 47/2008 and the Standards for tobacco and nicotine products, including electronic ones all tobacco use, including sucking, chewing or inhaling, are considered equivalent to smoking.

LATEST ALERTS

Alternative tobacco and nicotine products in Jordan

Global regulatory response to pouches and heated tobacco products ramps up

WHO reports drop in tobacco use despite industry ‘interference’ in achieving goals

More improvement needed – WHO report gives the world 7/10 for tobacco control

The Middle East: nicotine pouch market overview, October 2024

Jordan: heated tobacco regulation, May 2023

Jordan: oral tobacco and nicotine pouch regulation, May 2023

Regulatory report: Jordan – heated tobacco, June 2021

Heated tobacco markets database

Heated tobacco pricing tracker

Global regulatory tracker: heated tobacco regulation, November

Global regulatory tracker: nicotine pouches, November

TobaccoIntelligence compliance calendar

Sign up to our newsletter

LATEST ALERTS

Alternative tobacco and nicotine products in Jordan

Sign up to our newsletter

Start your FREE trial