Agriculture Minister Akram Chehayyeb met on Monday with Health Minister Wael Abou Faour and Economy Minister Alain Hakim to tackle the controversial issue of wheat imports.
The conferees agreed to form a task force to resolve the problem of imported wheat.
Chehayyeb said that wheat should be tested and that there should be appropriations to guarantee depots for it.
For his part, Abou Faour clarified that the results of tests that were carried out by his ministry do not contradict that of the economy ministry.
In a press conference held following the meeting, the health minister stressed that “not all wheat is carcinogenic,” calling for taking swift measures concerning the import and storage.
In turn, Hakim asserted that the three ministries are cooperating to follow up on this issue.
Last week, Abou Faour announced that four out of seven samples of wheat tested by the ministry at Beirut Port do not meet health standards.
He pointed out that wheat contains ochratoxin, a substance which causes cancer and Alzheimer's.