Jordan NQI

completed

The project is expected to have a wide transitional impact on the economy. Through improved NQI, implemented Products Safety and Quality Policy, and international recognition of national NQI and control institutions the country would be able to become more competitive internationally, get better access to international markets, attract more private investments, increase export and create more jobs. The reform will also lead to faster and easier and introduction of new technologies and new types of products, sustainable compliance with international (incl. the EU) requirements, and therefore – to global competitiveness increase. Improvement of the food safety and pharmaceutical control, which is not possible without overall NQI reforms, will lead to better and constant compliance with international requirements, and ability to export to bigger number of markets for two already biggest export categories. Besides, compliance with best international agricultural, food safety and production practices and standards (GAP, HACCP, GMP, GHP) will lead to increase of the value added, and allow better pricing for Jordanian products, which is important for a country with scarce resources. The project will ensure proper balance between compulsory and voluntary standards, to avoid excessive burden for the private sector, and, at the same time, meet minimum requirements of international markets. The project will help inspectorates improve control of compulsory requirements, to ensure that the inspections system is reliable and recognized, but will also support and promote voluntary compliance with stricter, but not compulsory standards to improve competitiveness of Jordanian products. The agri sector will be able to get access to new markets, better utilize scarce country resources, and increase quality and value added of domestic produce. The pharmaceutical industry will be able to introduce new products faster and export easily. Better and modern NQI would also encourage firms to innovate, more competitive and innovative companies would create more quality jobs for local labour force and contribute to the improved living conditions. At that, improvement of the core NQI components – standardization, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment – will be beneficial for the whole economy and are essential both selected sectors (agri and pharma) as will improve access to reliable and recognized NQI services for producers. The project goal and objectives will be achieved by accomplishment of the following activities. COMPONENT 1. Improvement of the access of Jordanian products to international markets by modernizing the national quality infrastructure in line with international and regional practice. COMPONENT 2. Improvement of the access of Jordanian agri and food products to international markets by reforms of the national systems of the sanitary and phytosanitary control. COMPONENT 3. Improvement of the access of Jordanian pharmaceutical products to international markets. The main beneficiaries of the project are the governmental institutions in charge of the food safety, pharmaceutical control and inspections, and technical regulations and quality policy.