Amman, Nov. 4 (Petra) - Jordan, represented by the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA), has been granted full membership in the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S), becoming the second Arab nation to join the prestigious global regulatory body. The decision was ratified today during the organization’s meeting in Hong Kong, following Jordan’s successful fulfillment of all technical and procedural accession requirements - a milestone underscoring the JFDA’s sustained commitment to the highest international standards of pharmaceutical quality and regulatory governance.

In a statement on Monday, the JFDA said the achievement marks a key step in advancing its strategic vision to attain regulatory excellence regionally and globally. The accession process began in 2018, with the agency completing the first evaluation phase by late 2020, paving the way for the second-stage application in early 2021. Throughout this period, specialized teams worked to upgrade inspection frameworks, modernize regulatory legislation, and align laboratory control protocols within the Drug Inspection Department and the Pharmaceutical Control Laboratory with global best practices.

The PIC/S, which brings together 56 national regulatory authorities from around the world, is regarded as one of the foremost international institutions in the field of pharmaceutical inspection and oversight. It seeks to harmonize standards for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), establish consistent inspection procedures for pharmaceutical plants, and enhance cooperation through knowledge sharing, monitoring programs, and continuous professional development for inspectors.

By joining PIC/S, the JFDA gains recognition as a globally trusted inspection authority, enabling its GMP certifications to be internationally acknowledged. This in turn will facilitate market access for Jordanian pharmaceuticals, strengthen the country’s export competitiveness, and reinforce confidence in the safety, efficacy, and quality of locally manufactured drugs.

JFDA Director General Rana Abu Eidat said the membership "reflects the international community’s confidence in Jordan’s regulatory competence and the country’s pioneering role as the region’s first established drug oversight body." She added that the move will further enhance inspectors’ expertise through participation in PIC/S training programs and data exchange mechanisms, including joint inspection reports and a coordinated rapid alert system among member states.

Abu Eidat commended the efforts of the JFDA’s staff and partners in achieving this accreditation, emphasizing that the institution remains committed to pursuing further milestones in regulatory innovation and global integration.

//Petra// AA