Hay and straw export banned temporarily

Agriculture and Economy Ministries seek comprehensive development strategy

July 6, 2011- Minister of Trade and Economy Nicolas Nahhas and Minister of Agriculture Hussein Hajj Hassan pledged cooperation between the two ministries in order to improve food safety. Following a joint meeting on Tuesday (July 5), the two ministers said they will work to shift productive sectors from the subsidy policies to a comprehensive development strategy.

Nahhas said the Ministry of Economy was ready to help in providing equipment to two laboratories at the Beirut port and the Rafic Hariri Airport. The two ministers said they will move on with joint cooperation programs, mainly in terms of grain cultivation. They agreed to adopt a program for developing exports at all levels.

Separately, the Minister of Agriculture signed a decree banning the export of hay and straw until the end of August 2011. The decree stated that the ban was imposed since the local product of hay and straw is not sufficient for consumption in the local market. It said it aimed at keeping the prices of these products stable.