Smokers and the Business Environment in Jordan Will Benefit Significantly From Government Reforms on E-Cigarette Policies and Taxes

RELX International, a responsible multinational electronic cigarettes company, is continuing its support for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to adopt a more favourable fiscal policy when it comes to the country’s e-cigarette polices and taxes. Should policies and taxes on these products be revised in line with regional markets such as Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Jordanian adult smokers, the business environment and government financial reserves will benefit greatly.

According to the Jordan National Stepwise Survey (STEPs) for Noncommunicable Diseases Risk Factors 2019, adult smokers in Jordan smoke an average of 21.3 cigarettes a day [1]. The rate is said to be amongst the highest in the world, with worldwide scientific research linking high tobacco use to a raft of diseases. In contrast, an increasing number of reputed organisations including the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has said that e-cigarettes are far less harmful than traditional cigarettes, and can actually help smokers reduce or quit smoking altogether [2].

For adult smokers in Jordan, reforming e-cigarette policies and reducing taxes will bring legal access to accessibly priced, premium quality e-cigarette products, which are backed by the latest research & development. Responsible brands will also be able to work closer with their partners to educate adult consumers about the risks and benefits of their products, and restrict access to minors. Consumers can also rest assured that regulated products have been signed off by the Jordanian Food and Drug Administration, which is the sole national competent authority for drug safety & efficacy and food safety & quality.

While e-cigarette products do contain nicotine and so are not completely without risks, the latter is not the main cause of smoking-related diseases according to various regulatory and health organisations including the aforementioned NHS. In fact, a research paper published on the website ‘Tobacco Control’ has stated that the replacement of combustible cigarettes by e-cigarettes use over a 10-year period yields 6.6-million fewer premature deaths, with 86.7-million fewer life years lost in the Optimistic Scenario in the United States alone [3].

Apart from the benefit to adult smokers in the country, broad e-cigarette reforms will benefit the business and investment environment in Jordan. E-cigarette vendors will be attracted to investing in on-ground facilities to better liaise with the market, while the supply chain responsible for the distribution of products could also experience significant growth; traditionally, e-cigarette products are retailed by small- and medium-businesses, and the legalisation of these products with balanced taxation will attract entrepreneurs keen to set up new retail points across the country.

Through these important reforms, Jordanian authorities will also benefit from the collection of tax revenues from legally imported products. In line with this, authorities will be able to clamp down on tax evasion issues associated with illegal market players, while simultaneously working to curtail the spread of inferior and dangerous black-market products, which do not meet the standards and regulations outlined by local and international authorities. This will positively impact the safety of adult smokers who will be able to access licensed and standard-compliant e-cigarette products at an accessible price.

Links:

[1] Jordan National Stepwise Survey (STEPs) for Noncommunicable Diseases Risk Factors 2019
[2] NHS UK - Using e-cigarettes to stop smoking
[3] Tobacco Control – Potential deaths averted in USA by replacing cigarettes with e-cigarettes

Notes to Editors:

About RELX International

Founded in 2019, RELX International is a multinational electronic cigarettes company that markets and sells RELX, The world’s advanced vape brand powered by SuperSmoothTM technology. RELX, Asia’s leading e-cigarette brand, is widening its footprint across the world, and is currently available in 40+ countries such as the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Indonesia, Philippines, Canada, KSA and the UAE. What sets RELX apart from competition is the fact that it has a full ecosystem (such as closed pods, disposables, device, and power bank accessories) that are designed at a cutting-edge research and development center and produced at one of the world’s largest e-cigarette factories. RELX's mission is to make RELX a trusted brand for legal age adult smokers through state-of-the-art products, industry-leading technologies, and scientific advances in collaboration with talented and committed people around the globe. The company has attracted global talents from Uber, Procter & Gamble, Apple, Beats, and L'Oréal. RELX is proud to be listed in Dubai Duty Free, the first duty free channel in the world.

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