Lower House rejects meteorology bill

AMMAN — The Lower House on Sunday rejected the draft meteorology law, which it has received just recently from the government.

Late last month, the government referred the draft law to the House, putting its validating reasons as seeking to regulate meteorological activities and services such as weather forecasts.

The bill, as put by the government, also seeks to provide a single main point of reference that gives weather and climate-related data and information, impose punitive measures against anyone who damages meteorology department equipment, and penalise unlicensed parties that issue weather warnings to the public.

Violators face a jail sentence between six months and one year, in addition to a fine no less than JD1,000 and no more than JD20,000, under the draft law.

Former House speaker MP Abdul Karim Dughmi (Mafraq, 1st District) described the law as "martial", "tongue-holding" and "a step backwards", adding that is proof of the government's "money collection policy".

In response to MPs, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said the draft law had been in the Legislation and Opinion Bureau since 2014, describing the bill as "progressive" and "protective" of the sector.

Ensour also said that the government does not target a specific entity with the law, and it is everywhere in the world because it is needed to regulate the sector and hold accountable any meteorological agency basing its forecasts on no scientific methods.

In remarks during a visit to the Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) in January, Ensour said weather forecast bulletins issued by the department should be accurate and credible as much as possible, stressing that inaccuracies result in large losses to the economy.

After decades of operating solely, the JMD is facing competition today from emerging professional and amateur forecasters.

A polar front that affected the Kingdom last month was accompanied by contradictory weather forecasts that caused confusion among Jordanians.

Also during Sunday's session, the 150-strong House decided to postpone its deliberation of the draft Treaty of Mutual Assistance on Criminal Matters signed between Jordan and the US until it receives a full copy of the agreement.

Some lawmakers' accused the government of approving an agreement that violates the Kingdom's sovereignty. 

Ensour apologised for not sending the agreement's supplement, stressing lawmakers' right to know everything and calling for an investigation into why the treaty arrived incomplete to the House. 

MPs also passed the 2011 amendments to the Industry and Trade Law, removing a provision that allowed the establishment of independent business societies.

The House also endorsed the economic projects development law which was amended in line with the government's decision to cancel the Jordanian Commission for Improving the Investment Environment under the restructuring plan.