Senate returns anti-smoking law to Lower House

AMMAN — The Senate on Monday returned the amended Public Health Law to the Lower House after making some slight changes.

As per senators’ changes to the law, the health minister will have the authority to declare any other location not included in the law a public place, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Under the law, smoking is prohibited in hospitals, healthcare centres, schools, cinemas, theatres, libraries, museums, public and non-governmental buildings, public transport vehicles, airports, border crossings, stadiums, closed playgrounds, lecture halls, Internet cafés, tourism buildings and any other similar location.

Senators also voted against a proposal to include Parliament among the public places where smoking is prohibited, according to Petra.

On March 13, the Lower House endorsed the law, stiffening the penalty for smoking in public places. 

Under the new amendments, a prison term from one to three months or a fine no less than JD100 and no more than JD200 will be imposed on those caught smoking cigarettes or any tobacco product in public places.

The government’s version of the law stipulated that any person caught smoking in a public place is subject to between one week and one month imprisonment or a JD15-JD25 fine. 

In the law, a “public place” is defined as the place designated to receive the public or a certain category of people like hospitals and schools. 

Officials responsible for a public place allowing smoking or not posting a no-smoking sign face between three and six months in prison or a JD1,000-JD3,000 fine under MPs’ amendments.

Also on Monday, the Upper House passed the 2015 amendments to the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) Law as referred from the Lower House. 

The law prohibits the selling of land within the boundaries of the PDTRA to non-Jordanians.

Under MPs’ amendments to the law, only Jordanians can buy or lease land in Petra and this should be included in a by-law, which should also specify Israelis as among those prohibited from buying assets in the district.