Premier vows ‘zero tolerance’ against food, drug violations

AMMAN — The government will show “zero tolerance” against violations that imperil citizens health, food and medications, and strict legal measures will be taken against any entity that puts public health at risk, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Omar Razzaz said on Monday. 

The premier during his visit to the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA), instructed to subject all plant and animal production chains to strict control to ensure the health and safety of the public, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The government is mulling the establishment of an integrated body for quality control and consumer protection to play an oversight role similar to the Audit Bureau, Razzaz said, noting that the JFDA will be the "nerve centre" of the new body. 

The intended body will focus on food and drug safety, specifications, standards, consumer protection, price and the environment, the PM added, pointing out that the recommended commission will have a “strong” executive and supervisory team. 

Reviewing the administration's achievements, Director of the JFDA Nizar Mheidat said that as per Royal directives, the JFDA, since the beginning of this year until the end of August, reduced the prices of 416 drugs, noting that a number of prices have been lowered by 71 per cent.

He also said that Jordan, which had not produced face masks before 2020, currently has 41 factories producing face masks, to cover the local and export demands.