Lower House begins deliberations on market competition law amendments

AMMAN — The Lower House on Wednesday commenced deliberations over amendments to draft of the Law of Competition for 2022, approving 10 articles of the bill that were proposed by the Parliamentary Economic and Investment Committee. 

The Lower House also passed a number of  deputies’ proposals related to the bill, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply Yousef Shamali, said that this law is part of a set of laws that the government pledged to send to the Lower House. The recently passed Investment Environment Law, which has been sent and approved, is one among the set, he noted.

Responding to MPs’ questions, Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Mohammad Khalaileh clarified that funds belonging to the ministry are not exempt from fees, including the Hajj Fund. All of the ministry’s funds, with the exception of the Awqaf funds development department, are subject to fees, he added. 

The validating reasons for the amendments to the Competition Law aim to ensure the protection of free and effective competition in the market by reviewing prohibitions on practices that obstruct fair competition, and preventing  monopoly. The draft law also strengthens penalties for violations, and identifies the factors by which any institution is considered to have a “dominant position” in the market.