Deputies discuss draft food control law

AMMAN — The Lower House on Sunday started deliberations over the draft food control law and decided to change its name to the “food law”. 

During a session, deputies endorsed an article that designates the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) as the sole party entrusted with control over local and exported food at various stages in the market to ensure that it is in compliance with local quality and safety standards.

MPs recommended that one entity be the point of reference for all monitoring bodies concerned with monitoring food safety, noting that JFDA should be that point of reference.

The recommendation is not in conformity with the recommendation of the Lower House’s Health Committee, which calls for having JFDA as the sole entity entrusted with the monitoring and control of local and imported food. 

Health Minister Ali Hiasat said the food law itself is the sole point of reference on food safety, noting that JFDA cannot carry out the monitoring task on its own without the help of municipalities across the Kingdom.

He stressed that the JFDA does not have a presence in all areas of the Kingdom. 

Health Committee Rapporteur Zakariya Sheikh (Islamic Centrist Party) said JFDA has only 66 inspectors and has signed memoranda of understanding with other parties to monitor food safety.

Also during the session, the House endorsed the Jordan Academy of Arabic Law — which enables the academy to achieve its goals of safeguarding the Arabic language — and the draft public security law, which stipulates the establishment of a police court of appeals to look into appeals in cases involving police officers.