Specifications and Standards: Seizing 53 thousand various heaters and destroying large quantities of them
Amman3 min read
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The Acting Director General of the Jordan Organization for Standardization and Metrology (JISM), Wafaa Al-Momani, said on Monday that the quantities impounded by the institution of non-compliant heaters, or those whose owners failed to provide proof of their compliance with standards, approximate 53 thousand heaters of various types and categories, pointing out that decisions were issued to destroy large quantities of them.
Al-Momani added that the institution has begun implementing proactive regulatory and inspection tours on import operations, by examining imported heaters in both their final forms—whether gas, kerosene, or electric—and ensuring they meet standard specifications requirements, by requesting technical inspection reports issued by accredited laboratories, in addition to conducting tests in national laboratories.
She explained that the institution also monitors factories and local production by drawing samples and testing them in external accredited laboratories, in addition to national laboratories, alongside monitoring markets and what is being offered, sold, and displayed to citizens, and dealing with complaints received from citizens regarding the presence of non-compliant products.
She stated that the institution's annual plan includes all governorates of the Kingdom, with the intensification and concentration of various types of inspection work, emphasizing that banned heaters that were prohibited last year "are banned from manufacturing, distribution, sale, and circulation," and that anyone who sells them or displays them for sale "bears legal responsibility."
Al-Momani pointed out that there is no 100% oversight on all products, whether imported or locally manufactured, in accordance with international practices, explaining that the institution previously relied on taking random samples, while it is currently working to withdraw all models and categories, whether intended for indoor or outdoor use, conducting tests, and requesting inspection reports related to production.
She stressed that factories are required to have quality control systems that ensure all their products comply with standard specifications, not just the initial samples, pointing out that quality assurance is "the responsibility of the manufacturer or importer."
She said that since the beginning of the 2026 winter, the institution has asked a number of factories and importers to provide proof of heater compliance, some of whom complied while a number of others did not, leading to the impoundment of the heaters, explaining that the impounded quantities approximate 53 thousand heaters, and that destruction decisions have been issued for large quantities of them.
She added that the institution provides the concerned party with options consisting of "exporting the products to any other country, rectifying its production so that the product becomes compliant, or destruction."
She stressed that violations exist in both locally manufactured products and imported products, and that controls and procedures are applied to the product regardless of its source, if it is proven that it fails to meet the specification requirements.
According to Al-Momani, most electric heaters are imported, while most gas heaters are locally produced, depending on the type of heater.
She pointed out that the institution has strengthened its inspection staff at the main headquarters and the southern and northern branches by adding about 25 inspectors to the existing staff, bringing the number of inspectors to about 70 inspectors carrying out inspection work in all governorates of the Kingdom.
She noted that the institution cooperates with the Customs Department and coordinates with the Public Security Directorate to support the institution and inspection teams during the winter, emphasizing that the campaign will continue until the end of the winter season.
