Authorities confirm sufficient food reserve, caution public against panic, stockpiling

AMMAN — The Kingdom currently has food reserves to last a whole year, even in a worst-case scenario in which all imports are stopped, officials said on Thursday, urging the public “not to panic or excessively stock food commodities”.

A food sector representative at the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, Raed Hamadeh, said that the public "should rest assured about the availability of food for purchase and storage”.

He suggested that an emergency committee be formed to maintain a comfortable stock of food commodities in the local market and address the consequences of trade restrictions caused by the novel coronavirus. 

“The World Health Organisation’s announcement that the new coronavirus can now be described as a pandemic requires greater cooperation and participation from the public and private sectors to search for new alternatives to enhance the Kingdom's food stock and maintain prices,” he added.

Hamadeh recommended that the emergency committee be tasked with identifying the alternatives that merchants and importers can turn to for supplying the local market, with the United States, Argentina, Turkey, Russia, Sudan, Australia and Canada considered “key trade partners”.

The food sector representative said that the import of foodstuffs has not stopped, in turn "strengthening the strategic stockpiling of basic commodities now sufficient for a year, especially those with a long shelf life such as sugar, canned rice and legumes”.

The reserve of frozen red meat is currently sufficient for eight months, in addition to ample stocks of fresh poultry, which also covers the local market's needs for a similar period, he said.

“Jordan is considered one of the safest countries in the region in terms of food circulation. Importers, traders and major companies are always keen, in all circumstances, to provide a safe stock of food in the local market, especially that of the most demanded commodities, at high quality and affordable prices, with a large set of alternatives per item,” Hamadeh noted.

He stressed that there is an “urgent need to remain calm and not circulate statements that might harm public interests".

The food sector representative also called on the government to prevent the export of foodstuffs if necessary.

According to the chamber, the Kingdom imports food valued at about $4 billion annually, part of which consists of raw materials for industry and the other part ready-for-consumption wares.

The most-imported commodities are sugar at 300,000 tonnes, rice at 200,000 tonnes and powdered milk at 30,000 tonnes.

Head of the Jordan and Amman Chambers of Industry Fathi Jaghbir likewise urged the public not to rush to buy and store food, stressing that the Kingdom has a sufficient reserve.

Despite the travel ban to a number of countries, the commercial exchange is still continuing, he said, in addition to Jordanian food factories "working at their fullest capacity to cover the needs of the local market and export markets".

Director General of the Civil Service Consumer Corporation Salman Qudah also confirmed the availability of stockpiles of various food commodities at the corporation’s warehouses, with enough supply to meet the public's needs for three to five months.

"All foodstuffs are available at the corporation's branches at stable prices, similar to those of last year," Qudah said, noting that the corporation will soon offer Ramadan goods in its markets.

Also on Thursday, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Tareq Hammouri said that Jordan has a sufficient reserve of food, stressing that the Kingdom's supply of wheat and barley is enough to cover local consumption for about 12 months. 

Hammouri's remarks came during a press conference held to provide an update on the strategic stockpiling of commodities.

The quantities of commodities vary from one item to another, the minister said, adding that the reserves of "all commodities" are adequate for several months.

As part of precautionary measures taken to address the repercussions of the global coronavirus outbreak, a coordination committee, headed by the minister, has been formed to follow up on coronavirus-related developments and address the financial implications incurred by the private sector, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

During the press conference, it was also announced that the Jordan Chamber of Commerce has established a coordination office to address problems, complaints and suggestions regarding food supply and related issues. The coordination office will provide around-the-clock services.