The number of traders currently benefiting from the “Committed Trader” program has reached 155, while the cumulative number of traders who have joined the program since its launch in 2012 stands at 215, according to the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization.
اضافة اعلان
The organization told Al-Mamlaka that the decline to 155 traders, compared with the cumulative figure, is due to some traders discontinuing their participation for reasons related to the continuation of their commercial activities and their compliance with the program’s requirements.
It added that 96.1% of traders have maintained compliance with the requirements on an annual basis. The program focuses on reducing violations related to imported products, particularly traders disposing of non-compliant products in any manner before receiving authorization from the organization to do so.
The program covers products belonging to the sector through which the trader joined, as well as products from other sectors. It also addresses violations related to information displayed on product labels and cases where products fail to meet the requirements stipulated in applicable technical regulations and standards.
The organization said monitoring indicators show a clear decline in violations recorded against participating traders, reflected in a reduction in the number of unpaid customs declarations and a higher level of compliance with approved requirements and conditions.
The household electrical appliances sector recorded the highest participation in the program, with 33 traders, followed by personal care products with 23 traders and tires with 22.
The organization said the program helps speed up inspection and oversight procedures by giving participating traders priority in inspections, sampling and document verification, as well as priority testing for samples referred to the organization’s laboratories.
Depending on the trader’s category, the program also allows between 70% and 95% of tariff items in the sectors covered by the trader’s participation agreement to be processed through the green and yellow channels directly, without physical inspection or laboratory testing. A specified percentage remains subject to the red channel under the selectivity system.
According to the organization, traders retain their “Committed Trader” status throughout the validity period of their participation agreement. They must renew their participation annually by submitting a renewal application at least 10 days before the agreement expires. Traders are reassessed upon each renewal by reviewing their record of violations to ensure they continue to meet the program’s requirements and have not committed a violation warranting removal.
Regarding violations, the organization said a trader is immediately removed from the program if they dispose of non-compliant imported products before authorization is issued, whether the products belong to the sector through which the trader joined the program or another sector, without being placed on the blacklist.
For other violations, traders receive a written notice for the first violation and a written warning for the second. They are removed from the program after a third violation. Under the program’s instructions, a notice is no longer taken into account after six months, while a warning expires after one year.
The organization said the program has achieved positive results that have improved national trade flows and the efficiency of regulatory procedures. These include speeding up customs clearance and the release of shipments, optimizing regulatory resources by focusing on high-risk consignments, reducing violations among participating traders, and strengthening integration with government agencies, particularly the Jordan Customs Department, through electronic connectivity and reciprocal facilitation measures.
Looking ahead, the organization said the program aims to expand its base of participating traders, simplify enrollment procedures, encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to join, and enhance the full automation of program services. This includes electronically submitting applications for enrollment and renewal, tracking violations, and establishing direct links with the Jordan Customs Department’s systems and the National Trade Window.
The objectives also include developing a methodology for assessing product risks, strengthening integration with similar trade facilitation programs, particularly the National Golden List, improving post-clearance oversight of shipments processed through the green channel, and measuring performance through indicators including release times, compliance rates and traders’ satisfaction levels.
Source: Al-Mamlaka
