JSMO Align Its Systems With Int'l Benchmarks To Support National Economy, Says Director General

(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)

Amman, Sept. 2 (Petra) – Jordan's Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) is stepping up efforts to align its systems with international benchmarks to ensure product safety, enhance competitiveness, and support the national economy, its director general, Abeer AlZuhair, said Tuesday.
Speaking at a Government Communication Forum meeting with media representatives under the theme "The role of the Standards and Metrology Organization in supporting the competitiveness of the national economy," AlZuhair said the JSMO monitors local products, imports and exports to ensure they comply with approved technical regulations. She said the organization has achieved major milestones in partnership with other agencies, stressing consumers also play a central role by reporting violations.
AlZuhair said the organization is internationally recognized for supporting quality of life and economic competitiveness and seeks to build trust in product quality and safety through best practices. It aims to upgrade conformity assessment, develop national standards aligned with international ones, and improve institutional performance based on excellence criteria.
Jordan ranked 67th in the 2025 Quality Infrastructure Index, advancing five places from 72nd in 2022, she added.
AlZuhair outlined the agency's mandate, which includes issuing standards and technical regulations, conducting market surveillance, verifying imported products, operating the national measurement system, calibrating and monitoring measuring instruments, overseeing the quality of precious metals and gemstones, and granting conformity certificates, including the Jordan Quality Mark. The body also accredits conformity assessment entities and cooperates with regional and international organizations.
JSMO has partnerships with the Jordan Customs Department, the Food and Drug Administration, and the ministries of industry and trade, agriculture, energy, and environment, as well as the Jordan Chamber of Industry, the Jordan Chamber of Commerce and the Royal Scientific Society.
It is a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the European Committee for Standardization, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization, the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries, and the Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organization.
AlZuhair said that in the past three years the organization gained recognition from the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), strengthening confidence in its accreditation certificates. JSMO has expanded inspection activities to cover imported vehicles and gas tank meters and introduced organic certification services to help Jordanian farm products access export markets, particularly in Europe.
She added that the institution also secured recognition from the Islamic Development Department for its halal certificates, positioning Jordan as a hub for halal products. Five memoranda of understanding were signed with counterparts in Iraq, the UAE, Palestine, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, in addition to six local agreements to boost cooperation.
On vehicle gas conversion, AlZuhair said a committee would follow up on standards, noting the process is not yet subject to JSMO oversight. She stressed that imported cars must meet safety requirements, and testing centers should have calibrated equipment and qualified staff. Four centers are currently approved, with others under review.
Regarding e-cigarettes, AlZuhair said the Public Security Directorate's cybercrime unit monitors online ads, while JSMO inspects products referred to it by customs' e-commerce center. Work is underway to regulate online trade in coordination with national bodies.
On counterfeit trademarks, she said border checks and a dedicated anti-counterfeiting unit handle violations in coordination with customs and consumer complaints.
AlZuhair noted penalties depend on the violation, including product confiscation, destruction or return to the source, with cases referred to prosecutors when warranted.
Looking ahead, she said JSMO will develop a comprehensive legislative framework through a new "Product Safety System" in line with the national quality policy. This will include new technical regulations, harmonization with World Trade Organization requirements, and recognition of conformity assessment bodies inside and outside Jordan. Plans also include expanding metrology oversight to cover medical devices and electric vehicle chargers and introducing eco-labels, halal certification for cosmetics, and management system certification.
She highlighted the aim to grow laboratory testing, especially for halal products, and expand international agreements, with new partnerships planned in Kenya, Rwanda, Greece, Turkey and Azerbaijan.
AlZuhair said JSMO participates in 58 ISO technical committees: three at the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization, 16 at the European Committee for Standardization, 15 with the Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organization, and 16 with the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries.
Government Communication Ministry Secretary General Zaid Nawaiseh said at the start of the meeting that JSMO plays a vital role in ensuring products meet Jordanian standards and in safeguarding consumers.
He noted the high international and regional regard for Jordanian standards, which boosts the competitiveness of local products, and praised the leadership of JSMO and the Food and Drug Administration by "two of the most capable women" in Jordan's public sector.
The session concluded with a Q&A between AlZuhair and media representatives.

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