Food Safety Draft-Law Becomes 'Reality' after Joint Committees Approval
MP Atef Majdalani and Health Minister Wael Abou Faour hailed on Thursday the approval of the joint parliamentary committees of a draft-law on food safety, hoping for its swift approval by the legislature.
“The draft-law has become a reality and we would soon have a modern law that protects food,” said Majdalani during a joint press conference with Abou Faour following the approval of the draft-law.
Majdalani heads parliament's public health and social affairs committee.
Abou Faour thanked Speaker Nabih Berri and all political parties who backed his campaign against food violators.
He hoped that Berri would call for a swift session to approve it.
He also hailed ex-Minister Bassel Fleihan, who was killed in the Feb. 2005 bombing that targeted former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's convoy.
Fleihan was the first official in Lebanon to shed light on the matter of food safety.
“The guarantee to our food safety campaign comes through legislation. We made a step forward today,” said Abou Faour, who in October launched a nation-wide drive against violators.
Around three businessmen were arrested over several violations, the judiciary is taking its course and the campaign is expanding to areas across Lebanon, he told reporters.
“The content of the draft-law is balanced but could have been better,” he said.
But Abou Faour expressed hope that the approval of the draft-law “would give hope to the citizens that the state is serious.”
“Food will be safer through its implementation,” he told reporters.
Abou Faour also said his ministry will carry out raids in restaurants to guarantee the implementation of the anti-smoking law, which entered into force in 2012.
Law 174 prohibits smoking in all enclosed bars, restaurants and cafes in Lebanon.
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