Abou Faour Says Food Safety Campaign Improved State's Position

Health Minister Wael Abou Faour stated on Wednesday that the food safety campaign has seized the media spotlight and improved the state's position, expressing satisfaction at what he and the government have reached so far.

“The food safety campaign has seized media spotlight, but I am proud that the government and I have presented an acceptable example to protect the citizen,” said Abou Faour in a press conference.

“This campaign has raised the state's position and has proved that nothing is above the law. We have been able to create a common demand for the Lebanese citizens.”

Abou Faour added that “the ratio of food samples that do not meet the safety standards are getting fewer. The restaurants and institutions have somewhat acquired a knowledge of the basic requirements for food safety.”

On the attempts to tamper with the financial bills of the ministry of health, he said: “Some of the health ministry's financial statements have been tampered with in a bid to cover up the financial scandals.”

Earlier, Abou Faour urged Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam and the judiciary to join hands in his fight for food safety in the country.

“There is not just corruption but a total collapse of the state,” Abou Faour told As Safir newspaper.

He called for the announcement of a “state of emergency for health.”

Abou Faour asked Berri to call for a parliamentary session to discuss food safety.

He also urged Salam to call for an extraordinary cabinet session to take the necessary political decision to move forward in the battle against violations.

“There should be a series of administrative, judicial and legal measures that hold accountable all culprits,” said the minister.

“Certain people in some institutions are wearing ties but they should be placed in prisons instead,” he added.

As Safir said that Abou Faour contacted Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi on Tuesday asking him to speed up the rulings on several cases of food safety violations referred to the judiciary.

He proposed the establishment of a general health prosecution to follow up the cases.

“Pending parliament's approval of a law in this issue, the prosecutor's office could task certain judges to solely deal with the health file to speed up the procedures” against the violators, Abou Faour said.

The minister has been spearheading a campaign against violators for the past two months.

He has ordered the closure of restaurants, slaughterhouses and institutions around the country for violating food safety standards.

On Wednesday, General Prosecutor Judge Samir Hammoud received a memo from Abou Faour informing him that the grain silos at Beirut Port did not meet the health standards.

Abou Faour asked the judge to take the necessary legal measures.

The minister inspected the silos on Tuesday, warning that the “Lebanese are sharing wheat with rats and pigeons.”