Document - Substandard Wheat in the Market

Commercial profit and the interests of some companies take precedence over the lives and health of the Lebanese people. The issue of a ship carrying wheat has been ongoing since November 2023, when the Lebanese state - specifically the Ministry of Agriculture represented by the head of the litigation office at the Ministry of Justice - filed an objection against Shbarak Trading Company. This objection was against a prior decision that allowed the entry of quantities of wheat into the Lebanese market after they had been tested in the laboratories of the Agricultural Scientific Research Institute, for serious reasons concerning human health as stated in the objection. This marked the second examination after test results from the American University confirmed the presence of mold, which warranted rejecting the shipment or destroying it instead of allowing its distribution to mills. After various back-and-forth exchanges, a judicial decision was made on February 29, allowing the current objection to be dismissed on formal grounds, thereby permitting the entry of the moldy wheat into the market. The judiciary cites legal timelines for objections and similar matters, as if the health of Lebanese citizens is contingent upon legal deadlines without regard for national interest and public safety.