Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Ghassan Hasbani posted the following tweet on his tweeter account:

“After reviewing the decision issued by the Council of State that we haven’t received up to this date concerning the nullification of the two decisions on preventing the registration and import of harmful agricultural pesticides, we are not going to allow the registration and import of items harmful to the Health of the Lebanese. We will take the necessary legal actions, and challenge the said decision to cease its implementation, pending a study of all the items and completion of all the procedures.

The decision issued by the Council of State tackled regulatory matters and did not consider the core of the issue as to the validity or invalidity of such a disputed decision or the damage it can cause.

Hence, we are seriously working to protect the health of the Lebanese, and any dispute over the decision should be settled with the legal and procedural frameworks, however the harm to the citizens’ health is irreparable.”