Practical Guide  | Export Procedure   See also      Saudi Arabia      Bahrain      Egypt      United Arab Emirates      Kuwait      Oman      Qatar      Jordan      Lebanon      Syria      Yemen           Jordan Import Rules 1. Exchange controls 2. Import controls 3. Export controls and licensing 4. State trading organisations 5. Standards and technical regulations 6. Labelling and packaging regulations 7. Documentation 8. Commercial samples and Temporary Imports 9. Customs duties   1. Exchange controls   Foreign investors are allowed to hold unlimited amounts of foreign currency in domestic banks.   Foreign investors are subject to no restrictions on foreign and domestic currency outflows.   2. Import controls   The Ministry of Supply imports and sets prices for : strategic food commodities including rice, wheat, flour, sugar and some powdered milk. basic building materials. fuel products.   The government allowed the private sector to import some of the above items including rice, sugar, flour (packed) and powdered milk.   Importers opening letters of credit are required to put cash up front covering 20% of the cost for plant and industrial machinery, 25% for raw materials and packing materials used in local industry, 30% for food, 70% for other commodities and 80% for imports into free zones.   A licence must be obtained from the Ministry of Industry and Trade for all imports and exports, but there are no restrictions on goods which can be traded privately - other than those imports restricted to the Ministry of Supply. There is a 1% fee charged to importers for goods stored in the free zones.   In January 1998 Jordan implemented the Single Administrative Document (SAD), which enables Jordanian customs authorities to comply with EU declarations and implement a one step customs procedure.   3. Export controls and licensing   Jordan's largest trading partner is Iraq and europeans companies should ensure, particularly for sensitive goods, that they are for Jordanian end users and that they are not destined for onward transfer to Iraq where UN Sanctions currently apply. The Europeans Government maintains export controls to prevent the export of goods, including technology, for a variety of reasons including: the collective security of the UE state and its allies in NATO national security and foreign policy requirements international legal obligations and commitments non-proliferation policy If goods or technologies are subject to your state export controls, a licence is required to gain the legal authority to export them.   4. State trading organisations   Government procurement is usually carried out through public tenders, although smaller purchases are made by direct contract.   An agent in the market is required for most Government contracts.   5. Standards and technical regulations   The Jordan Institute for Standards and Metrology (JISM) was set up in 1995 as an autonomous entity to have overall responsibility for setting technical specifications. Most Jordanian specifications are based on European standards and specifications, particularly those of the UK and Germany.   Halal certificates for meat products All imported beef and poultry products require a health certificate from the country of origin and a halal slaughter certificate issued by an approved Islamic centre in the country of origin   6. Labelling and packaging regulations   The Standard and Measures Department determines labelling regulations.   Differing requirements govern the import of foodstuffs, medicines, chemicals and other consumer products.   Products must be clearly marked, stamped, branded or labelled, to indicate the country of origin.   For added safety, bilingual (English and Arabic) labelling is advisable, particularly if the product is aimed at the mass market.   Labels also provides information regarding: placement of identification data identification of the manufacturer product information standard quality disclosures production and expiry date.   7. Documentation   Shipments must be covered by a commercial invoice, certificate of origin and bill of lading consisting of the original and as many copies as the importer may require. - When goods are exported from London, the invoice must be certified by the Arab Chamber of Commerce or the your Capital Chamber of Commerce and legalised by the Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.   Outside your Capital, certification of the invoice can be carried out by any local Chamber of Commerce or similar organisation. One copy of the invoice should contain a declaration by the exporter certifying the price and country of origin of the goods.   Certification is not required if the goods are valued at less than JD300 or where the goods are imported by an official or other body which is exempt from paying customs duty.   Goods accompanied by non-certified documentation are cleared subject to a 1% fine based on the cif value of the freight.   There is also a 1% fine for goods which can be levied if they are exported from a country other than that of their   8. Commercial samples and Temporary Imports   In order to qualify for temporary entry rights, exporters need to submit a written request to the Customs Department.   The right of temporary entry is for a one-year renewable period, on all raw materials and industrial inputs used in manufacturing. Semi-manufactured goods are allowed temporary entry for the purposes of manufacturing or export.   Samples of no trade value are exempt from all duties.   9. Customs duties   From 1st March 2000 all imported items pay one combined tax of not more than 30%, except for cars, cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.