New law for Lebanese organic produce

A new law that will allow the government to regulate organic farms and products will help boost international trust in Lebanese produce, a representative of the Lebanon Ministry of Agriculture has said.

Speaking at the Middle East Natural & Organic Product Expo (MENOPE), Rania Hayek said that the new law, which came into force this week will pull organic produce up to European standards.

“In Lebanon we now have two private certification companies that work to European standards,” Hayek explained, “but now we have a regulation law so we will now be able to control the certification bodies and the farmers who have certification. I hope it will [make international companies take Lebanon’s organic produce more seriously].

Hayek went on to explain: “In Lebanon 20% of the people like to buy organic – they want to eat healthily and they want to be protected from cancer, as well as think about their environment.

“At the ministry of agriculture we want to encourage the producers in Lebanon to sell this organic culture that’s safe and healthy.

“We have olive oil, vegetables and fruits, especially apples, and bread, and we hope to have more markets in the UAE soon.