3 Ministries Cooperate on Safety of Wheat Imports

Three cabinet ministers agreed on Monday to form a task force to resolve the problem of imported wheat days after Health Minister Wael Abou Faour and Economy Minister Alain Hakim exchanged accusations on the issue.

The two ministers, in addition to Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayyeb, stressed that they are cooperating and hoped that the task force would come up with a clear proposal in the coming few days.

One of their plans is to seek funding from the authorities to have silos that meet health standards.

Abou Faour said last week that four out of six imported wheat samples taken by his ministry's inspectors contained ochratoxin.

But Hakim snapped back, saying wheat samples that the economy ministry had tested were carcinogen-free.

On Monday, the two ministers played down their saber-rattling.

“The result of tests that we carried out do not contradict the results of the economy ministry,” said Abou Faour at a press conference that the three ministers held following a meeting.

“The samples are different and not all the wheat is carcinogenic,” he added.

As for Hakim, he also stressed that some wheat samples tested positive while others tested negative.

“The interest of the citizen comes before any misunderstanding” on the issue, said the minister.

G.K.

D.A.