By Khetam Malkawi

AMMAN - The Ministry of Health on Tuesday has banned the import of the “electronic cigarette”, which manufacturers claim is an effective means to help quit smoking.

The ministry cited a “higher percentage of nicotine”, used in the device, following suit of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which has previously warned against its use.

In a statement received by The Jordan Times, Health Minister Salah Mawajdeh said the ministry has turned down an application by a local company to import the item.

However, according to the WHO website, there is “no scientific evidence whatsoever that would confirm that the electronic cigarette is a safe and effective smoking cessation device”.

The WHO was “greatly concerned” that some manufacturers had used the WHO name or logo on their packages or websites, falsely implying endorsement.

In a related development, the ministry has sent a circular to the Kingdom’s public institutions, notifying them of the Public Health Law that prohibits smoking in public areas, Director of the Primary Healthcare Directorate Adel Bilbeisi told The Jordan Times on Tuesday.

According to Bilbeisi, the ministry will enforce the law by imposing a JD15-20 fine on those caught smoking in public facilities or a penalty of imprisonment ranging from one week to one month.

“To enforce the smoking ban in these places, especially in governmental agencies, each institution will pick one of its employees as a law enforcement officer,” Bilbeisi explained.

He added that most of the Kingdom’s malls have already started implementing the law, banning smoking in the premises.

But some mall owners are reluctant.

According to a Mecca Mall administrator, customers will always have priority.

“We announced the mall as a non-smoking area, and the security personnel talk to customers who smoke indoors and warn them. Still we cannot impose the law completely, and lose customers,” the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Jordan Times.

“If clients insist on smoking, we cannot risk our business by penalising them,” the source added.

Bilbeisi also announced a plan to be implemented at the Queen Alia International Airport and to gradually turn it into a completely free-smoking zone in the future.

“We met with the company undertaking the development of the airport and reached an agreement with them to have rooms with special standards and criteria during the coming 6 to 12 months, before smoking is banned completely after this period ends,” Bilbeisi explained.

The Public Health Law has recently been amended to prohibit smoking in public and private institutions and all public facilities.

According to the law, the ban includes hospitals, healthcare centres, schools, cinemas, theatres, libraries, museums, public and nongovernmental buildings, public transport vehicles, airports, closed playgrounds, lecture halls and any other location to be determined by the health minister.