Agriculture Minister Akram Chehayeb declared on Monday after discussing the apple production problem with Prime Minister Tammam Salam that the latter made efforts to provide support for the Lebanese agricultural sector by holding talks with international bodies during his stay in New York.
Chehayeb had already issued a decision 760/1 imposing the prior permit rule to the importation of apples, pears, and frozen potatoes.
The decision issued by the minister includes the following:
Article 1: The import of apples, pears, and frozen potatoes requires a prior permit issued by the Minister of Agriculture, and the imported product must meet the technical criteria set out by the legislation in force.
Article 2: Importers must present submit their requests to the Agriculture Minister’s office.
Article 3: Any decision which contradicts the content of the current decision is considered null.
Article 4: This decision is to be reported when necessary and it shall enter into effect upon its publication in the official gazette.