Ammon News - New regulations banning the sale of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 18 came into effect on Monday, accompanied by intensified inspections of shops and convenience stores, particularly those located near schools.

Mohammad Al-Qaadan, Director of Health Awareness and Media at the Ministry of Health, said the ministry has prepared a comprehensive inspection and awareness program to coincide with the implementation of the measures.

Speaking to Al Mamlaka TV, Al-Qaadan explained that Jordan’s Public Health Law No. 47 of 2008 and its amendments provide the legal framework for protecting public health. The law includes provisions aimed at preventing the harms of smoking, banning smoking in public places, and defining the responsibilities of businesses to comply with health requirements.

Under Article 63 of the law, anyone caught selling cigarettes to individuals under 18 years old faces imprisonment ranging from three to six months, or a fine between JD 1,000 and JD 3,000.

The same article also grants the Minister of Health the authority to close the establishment where the violation occurred for a period deemed appropriate.

Al-Qaadan said penalties will be applied according to the circumstances of each case, noting that the ministry conducts ongoing field inspections and monitoring campaigns. More than 500 trained officers, who hold judicial enforcement authority under the Public Health Law, are involved in these efforts.

Regarding home delivery services for tobacco products, he said the minister has the authority to close offending establishments, while relevant authorities may seize any vehicle used to promote or deliver tobacco products.

Al-Qaadan also urged parents to closely monitor and guide their children, warning that smoking is an addiction that often begins among teenagers and students as experimentation or a joke before developing into dependence.

Prime Minister Jafar Hassan Sunday directed the Ministry of Health and relevant authorities to intensify inspections of all establishments and strictly enforce Article 63 of the Public Health Law.

Under the directive, any establishment found serving hookah or selling or providing tobacco products to anyone under 18 will be closed and held fully accountable for the violation.

The directive follows reports of practices by some establishments that violate the law by serving hookah or selling or providing tobacco products to minors.

Serving hookah or selling it poses a direct threat to the health of children and adolescents and may encourage tobacco use at an early age, exposing them to associated health risks.

The measure is in line with Chapter Twelve of Public Health Law No. 47 of 2008, which addresses the protection of public health from the harmful effects of smoking.