The Ministry has confiscated the shipment which came from Ukraine via the Sophia Ship at the Port of Beirut after it detected some defects in the seeds; it also prevented distributing the cargo in the local markets before the Fanar Laboratory completes testing procedures.

The Laboratory tests proved that the confiscated wheat contains rotten, smelly, solid- blocks, broken grain, straw, insects, and plants, the Ministry said. The proportion of impurities was high and constituted 16 percent of the total volume of the cargo.

The Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Hajj Hassan, has ordered re-exporting the whole amount of wheat to the country of origin, and warned the company of any attempts of getting rid of the wheat in the Lebanese water. “Such a step would entitle the company to legal penalties,” the Minister said.

Hajj Hassan also said that the exporter must be charged with penalties for export violations, and sent copy of his decision to Mount Lebanon’s- Attorney General for follow up.