LU Services
League of Retired Professors
News
Vacancies
International Relations
Library
Contact Us
Email
The Lebanese University participates in the launch of MOPH action plan on food safety
On 11 May 2022, the Lebanese University participated in the launching ceremony of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) action plan for food safety in Lebanon, under the sponsorship of PM Najib Mikati.
The ceremony was attended by Minister of Public Health, Dr. Firas Abiad, Minister of Industry, George Bouchikian, Minister of Agriculture, Abbas Hajj Hassan, President of the Lebanese University, Professor Bassam Badran, Head of the Doctors Syndicate, Professor Sharaf Abu Sharaf, President of the Lebanese Order of Pharmacists, Joe Salloum, President of the International Society for the Science of Food Legislation, Samuel Godfrey, and a number of representatives of private universities and relevant institutions.
Dr. Maha Hoteit represented the National Center for the Quality of Medicine, Food, Water and Chemicals (LFDCA) of the Lebanese University in the scientific committee tasked with developing the national food safety strategy, which includes a group of experts, including Dr. Zina Daher from the Faculty of Public Health. The committee's work includes proposing a national strategy for food safety, conducting ongoing scientific discussions with the help of a number of universities and relevant institutions, and finding solutions in emergency situations.
PM Mikati stressed that the issue of food safety has become a top priority in the current circumstances that impose strictness in controlling this sector for a number of reasons, most notably the safety of citizens, the reputation of the productive sectors, and the role of ministries and competent departments in addressing any defect.
PM Mikati also commended the efforts of “GFORSS” organization for providing support to Lebanon to complete the first database of food pollutants in the Arab world, which will later be linked to the databases of other Arab countries.
Dr. Firas Abiad stressed the importance of updating the control process over food establishments in terms of distinguishing the establishments that adhere to health conditions, and developing and automating reports issued by the observers, which facilitates the creation of a database that will be the basis for taking decisions based on scientific pillars.
Dr. Firas Abiad also announced that the Ministry of Public Health is working to establish a hotline to report cases of food poisoning before the summer season.
