Trade Ministry halts licensing of food exports, re-exports

AMMAN — The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply has stopped granting licences to export and re-export food commodities, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Tareq Hammouri said on Wednesday.

Hammouri told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that the decision, which became effective as of Monday, is part of precautionary measures to maintain secure food reserves in light of the novel coronavirus pandemic, and to address repercussions that might surface in the potential closure of international markets.

The minister noted that the decision will continue to be enforced until a study is completed on the strategic reserve of food items and raw materials in this sector.

He reiterated that the Kingdom has sufficient reserves of various local and imported food items, with the ministry and the private sector in constant coordination to maintain these reserves at their highest levels.