Jordan

Jordan became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on February 27, 2005. 

Smoke Free Places

Smoking is prohibited in hospitals, health centers, schools, cinemas, theaters, public libraries, museums, governmental and non-governmental public premises, means of transportation, arrivals and departures halls at airports, enclosed stadiums, lecture-halls and any other place deemed by the Minister as public. The law fails to list all indoor public places and workplaces, so smoking is restricted or completely unrestricted in some places. Further, the law authorizes the Minister of Health to allow designated smoking areas in public places. The Ministry of Health has allowed a phase-in of the smoking ban in restaurants. The current policy is that 50 percent of seats must be reserved for non-smokers. The Ministry has not yet allowed smoking rooms in other places.

Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship

Almost all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion are prohibited, including in traditional and electronic media. However, some forms of indirect promotion, such as retailer incentive programs, may escape the ban. Tobacco sponsorship is not restricted.

Tobacco Packaging and Labeling

Although the law requires health warnings on all tobacco products, health warnings have been authorized for cigarette packs only. Therefore, other tobacco products do not carry health warnings. On cigarette packs, the authorized text-only health warning must occupy 40 percent of the front of the pack, placed length-wise down the long edge of the pack. One of four authorized combined picture and text warnings must occupy 40 percent of the back of the pack, placed along the bottom edge. Misleading terms, descriptors, trademarks, and figurative and other signs are prohibited.

Cigarette Contents and Disclosures

The law regulates specified contents in cigarettes, permitting those additives that are included on the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS) list. Permitted additives include sugars, mint, menthol, spearmint, and other flavors. The law does not require that manufacturers and importers disclose to government authorities information on the contents or emissions of their products.

Sales Restrictions

The law prohibits the sale of single cigarettes and the sale of tobacco products by vending machines or within 250 meters of educational and health facilities. However, there are no restrictions on the sale of tobacco products via the internet or small packets of cigarettes. The sale of tobacco products is prohibited to persons under the age of 18.

E-Cigarettes

The sale of e-cigarettes is allowed subject to restrictions. The use of e-cigarettes is prohibited in many places but fails to list all indoor public places and workplaces.  The use of e-cigarettes, accordingly, is restricted or completely unrestricted in some places. The law bans advertising and promotion of e-cigarette devices and e-liquids in any public place, and FDA authorization is required for any display inside the sales location. Advertising is prohibited including on the internet and social media sites. E-cigarette sales via the internet and vending machines are prohibited. Health warnings on product packaging must cover 30% of the main surface. The law imposes location-based sales restrictions; products cannot be sold within 500 meters of education or healthcare facilities. A retail license is required for the sale of e-cigarettes.

Roadmap to Tobacco Control Legislation

Public Health Law No. 47 of 2008, Chapter 12, is the primary piece of tobacco control legislation in Jordan and addresses smoke free places, tobacco advertising and promotion, and tobacco packaging and labeling. It also provides penalties for violations of these provisions (as amended by Law No. 11 of 2017). Jordanian Standard 466/2012 implements the tobacco packaging and labeling provision in the Public Health Law (Article 56). The Public Transport Law of 2008 and the Traffic Law of 2008 are separate pieces of legislation (i.e., not issued under the Public Health Law) and address smoking in public transport. The Control of Juvenile Conduct Law of 2006 is also separate legislation and prohibits the sale of tobacco to minors. The tobacco advertising and promotion provisions of the Public Health Law are largely self-implementing, except for point of sale display, which is regulated by the Tobacco Products Display Regulation of 2013 and two implementing instructions issued in 2015. The Ministry of Health has issued instructions to the airport authority, restaurant associations, and the general manager of the Amman mall regarding implementation of the smoking ban in airports, restaurants, fast food restaurants, and the Amman mall.

E-cigarettes are regulated through two 2019 Jordan Food and Drug Administration pieces of legislation: the Basis for Tobacco and Nicotine Products, including Electronic Ones, and the Terms of Display, Sale, and Storage of E-Vapor and E-Liquid Products and Electronically Heated Tobacco Products. Additionally, the use of e-cigarettes is prohibited in the smoke-free places set out in Public Health Law No. 47 of 2008.

Review Status

This country’s legal measures were reviewed by our legal staff in consultation with in-country lawyers or tobacco control experts.