Jordan has made notable strides in reforming its customs enforcement over the past year, addressing a significant volume of customs violations, including a substantial number of smuggling cases. This effort is part of a broader initiative to modernize its trade and customs processes, with potential implications for intellectual property (IP) rights and brand protection that merit close attention from IP holders and legal practitioners.
The recent announcement that Jordan has addressed 82,000 customs violations, with nearly 6,000 identified as smuggling attempts, illustrates the magnitude of challenges faced and the robust response initiated by the authorities. This situation is particularly pertinent to IP holders, as smuggling often includes the trade of counterfeit goods, posing a direct threat to brands and IP rights. The proactive stance taken by Jordan in this regard signifies a commitment to protecting intellectual property and upholding the integrity of brands.
Jordan Customs’ launch of six national projects aimed at enhancing economic competitiveness and reducing bureaucratic redundancies in import, export, and transit systems is a significant step towards facilitating legitimate trade. For IP holders, the streamlined processes promise more efficient customs handling, potentially reducing the risk of counterfeit goods entering the market. These reforms are designed to improve the ease of doing business, indirectly supporting the protection of IP rights by enhancing the overall regulatory environment.
The adoption of eight new electronic services and the expansion of e-connectivity agreements to a total of 66 represents a move towards digitalization of customs processes. This digital shift is crucial for IP protection, offering tools for better tracking and verification of goods. The modernization of customs through digital means provides a more transparent and controllable environment for trade, enabling IP holders to work more closely with customs authorities to identify and prevent the distribution of counterfeit products.
Moreover, the upgrade of the e-tracking system with advanced technologies for surveillance and tracking furthers the capability to monitor goods movement closely. Such technological advancements are vital for IP holders, offering enhanced mechanisms to detect and intercept counterfeit goods. The precision and efficiency of this system can significantly aid in the protection of IP rights by ensuring that only genuine products cross borders.
Recordation with the Customs Departments (General Customs and Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority “ASEZA” Customs) is an essential and effective procedure for enforcing intellectual property rights in Jordan. Owners can proceed with the recordation at the Customs Departments for any of their trademarks duly registered in Jordan.
Upon recordation, a circular will be sent to all customs border points regarding the involved marks, which will assist the officials to suspend the clearance of any suspected shipment including any of the recorded marks. The legal agent in Jordan will be notified of the shipment for owner to take the necessary action.
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