AMMAN — The Lower House on Wednesday approved, by majority vote, a draft amended Competition Law for 2025, comprising 20 articles.

 

The legislative session was chaired by Speaker Mazen Qadi and attended by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and members of the government team, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 

The draft law was endorsed by the Cabinet on March 4, paving the way for its submission to the House for discussion and approval in accordance with constitutional procedures.

 

The House referred the draft amendment to the Parliamentary Economy and Investment Committee on March 12, which approved it on January 5.

 

The draft law aims to enhance the implementation mechanisms of competition policies in the Kingdom by strengthening the institutional empowerment of the administrative body responsible for enforcing the law, in line with best international practices. This includes granting the Competition Protection Directorate sufficient technical independence, executive powers and decision-making mechanisms, as well as developing tools for investigating complaints and granting authority to refer cases to the public prosecutor.

 

The amended Competition Law forms part of a package of legislation linked to the Economic Modernisation Vision and its executive programme, reflecting the government’s efforts to promote and protect free and effective competition in the Kingdom.

 

It also aims to create a competitive economic environment that serves as a key driver of sustainable economic growth, fosters development and innovation, protects consumers from monopolistic practices, and ensures access to diverse, high-quality products and services at fair prices.

 

The draft law also provides for the establishment of a “Competition Affairs Council,” which will function as an advisory body responsible for shaping public competition policy in the Kingdom and will include representatives from both the public and private sectors.

 

The amendments are expected to contribute to improving Jordan’s ranking in global ease-of-doing-business indicators and to attracting investment within a fair and competitive environment.

 

The amendments also include tougher penalties for repeat competition-related violations, a narrowing of exemptions stipulated in the law and the criteria for granting them, as well as the development of tools to detect anti-competitive practices, in line with best standards governing the protection of fair competition.