Jordan joins protocol to eliminate illicit tobacco trade

AMMAN — UN Secretary-General António Guterres has announced that Jordan joined the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade of Tobacco Products.

Minister of Health Firas Hawari said that Jordan's accession to the Protocol on 25 July underscores the Kingdom's commitment to international measures to combat tobacco smuggling and illicit trade.

He described this step as an important milestone for the success of the National Action Plan 2024-2026, which is part of the broader National Tobacco Control Strategy 2024-2030, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

This accession strengthens the effectiveness of national public health policies to eradicate all forms of the illicit tobacco trade, defined as any prohibited practice or behaviour related to the production, possession, distribution, sale, or purchase of tobacco products, he added.

The Protocol is based on Article 15 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), to which Jordan was one of the first countries to accede. 

This article addresses the threats posed by illicit trade and the measures that countries must take to prevent it. The Protocol aims to strengthen cooperation between countries, facilitate the exchange of information, and enforce effective measures.

Jordan's accession to the Protocol will take effect on October 23.