The Minister of Economy and Trade in the caretaker government, Amin Salam, announced that "in order to maintain the stability of commodity prices in the markets and to protect consumers, and based on the proposal of the Director General of Economy and Trade, and after consulting the State Consultative Council, retail shops and supermarkets across Lebanon are temporarily and exceptionally allowed to price commodities in US dollars."
In the context of implementing the pricing mechanism in dollars, the decision included the following provisions:
1. The necessity of placing price tags on the shelf or on the product in US dollars in a clear manner for the consumer, unless the items are purchased in Lebanese pounds such as fruits, vegetables, cigarettes, etc., in which case their prices can be announced in Lebanese pounds.
2. The exchange rate used should be displayed on all shelves, at the shop entrance, and at the payment counters, in a way that is visible and clear to the consumer.
3. The exchange rate relied on for purchasing dollars should be adopted, ensuring that it does not exceed the prevailing market rate at the time of the consumer's purchase.
4. The invoice must include the total amount of purchases and the Value Added Tax in Lebanese pounds, in addition to the date and time of the purchase and the applicable exchange rate, in a clear manner for the consumer.
5. The option for the consumer to pay in Lebanese pounds or US dollars at the register must be preserved.
Salam requested all retail shops and supermarkets to adhere to the provisions of the current decision and applicable laws, under the threat of penalties against violators and their referral to the competent judiciary according to the applicable laws. He also urged the authorities responsible for monitoring the implementation of this decision to intensify their oversight efforts to ensure proper compliance in order to achieve its objectives.
