BEIRUT: Agriculture Minister Akram Chehayeb launched Monday a coordination committee for Lebanon’s dairy sector, after a week of heated protests by dairy farmers over the low demand for milk.
The committee will include two representatives from local dairy factories, two dairy farmers and a ministerial representative.
The committee, which will have a center in the ministry, will follow-up on daily developments in the sector, according to a statement released by Chehayeb’s media office.
It is tasked with overseeing the pricing of milk and cheese, the sale and distribution of local dairy products, and will ensure the compatibility of the produce with health standards.
The move comes almost a week after the agriculture minister announced that the price of a liter of milk will be set at LL1,000 - dropping from LL1,100.
The decision prompted livestock breeders and members of the Milk Producers Cooperative Unions to stage protests in front of the Department of Agriculture in Zahle.
Dairy farmers in the Bekaa Valley also staged protests last week over the recent closure of dairy factories in the area and the low demand for milk products.
The decrease in demand was the result of the closure of over half a dozen dairy factories that violated food safety standards.
After meeting with representatives from Lebanon’s dairy factories and dairy farmers Monday, Chehayeb announced efforts to protect local dairy production.
In addition to launching the coordination committee, Chehayeb also vowed to crack down on bulk imports of white cheese that are being fraudulently marketed as locally produced.
The agriculture minister also said that he has called on Lebanese Customs to halt the smuggling of white cheese from Syria into Lebanon.
Chehayeb also said that he is considering the implementation of dues on imported powdered milk in an effort to boost local production.
The ministry will also ensure that dairy factories distinguish between dairy produce made by fresh milk or its powdered alternatives.
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