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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Monday said that his government will not tolerate any violations that would threaten public health or the safety of food and drugs, vowing strict measures against practices that put citizens' health at risk.

Speaking a t the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA), the premier ordered the Kingdom's food and pharmaceutical watchdog to place agricultural and animal supply chains under robust control to safeguard public health and food safety.

Razzaz indicated that his government is seriously mulling the inception of an integrated body for quality control, consumer protection and the prevention of monopoly, adding that JFDA will be the "nerve center" of the new body, which, according to the premier, should have an oversight role similar to that of the Audit Bureau and other supervisory agencies.

The prime minister revealed that the mandate of the proposed body will focus on food and drug safety, specifications, standards, consumer protection, prices, the prevention of monopoly, and the environment, stressing that the body will have a strong executive and supervisory team.

"This is a strategic approach that the government is working on... and we hope that it will see the light soon, so that the necessary legislative amendments can be made," Razzaz said.

The prime minister referred to His Majesty the King's directives to give the pharmaceutical manufacturing, food processing and export sectors utmost attention after they have proven resilient and adaptive to challenges.

Razzaz spoke of an urgent need to "unify our supervisory efforts related to consumer protection, quality control, food and drug standards, the environment, and all matters related to citizen's health".

In this regard, he underlined the need for strengthening cooperation between JFDA, the ministries of health and local administration and the Greater Amman Municipality to enhance multi-stakeholder engagement and ensure efficient assignment of roles and responsibilities.

Razzaz toured the various facilities of JFDA and checked firsthand on food and drug control activities.