Salam: lifting subsidies on baby formula is irresponsible

On Thursday, the Caretaker Minister of Economy and Trade, Amin Salam, voiced outrage regarding the recent decision to lift baby formula subsidies. 

"For those who say infant formula is not a medicine, I tell them that you are ignorant of the science of humanity and the safety of generations. Lifting subsidies on infant formula at this difficult stage without an alternative plan is an irresponsible decision and an escape forward and depriving our children of their only food. Lebanese children replace milk with water and sugar," stated Salam on Twitter.  

Despite the various attempts to secure the Lebanese market with milk and prevent its smuggling, the Ministry of Public Health lifted subsidies on the baby formula on Tuesday. 

"The main reason that prompted the Ministry to decide to lift subsidies on infant formula is related to the need to secure milk for children and not for traders who take advantage of this subsidy and smuggle milk and sell it on the black market," said Caretaker Minister of Public Health, Firas Abiad.  

According to many companies, the cause was associated with the fact that from the moment of ordering from abroad, the shipments need around three months to arrive in Lebanon. However, other sources confirmed that they are waiting for shipments to arrive within weeks, which will relieve the market.