BEIRUT: Lebanon ceased vegetable imports from all European countries Friday, following a recent outbreak of the deadly E. coli virus in which European cucumbers have been implicated, which has led to the death of at least 18 people.
“I'm announcing the halt of vegetable imports from Europe temporarily until the picture is clearer, and I have signed the decree this morning,” said caretaker Agriculture Minister Hussein Hajj Hasan Friday.
The European Union Friday slammed the decision.
"Any total embargo on European vegetables is disproportionate," Frederic Vincent, the spokesman for health at the European Commission, told AFP.
Hajj Hasan said the ban posed "no risk of shortages on the local market," as Lebanon could count on its own production and that of neighboring Jordan and Syria. He added that Lebanon actually imports very little vegetable produce from Europe.
“Every shipment that arrives to Lebanon following this decision will not be allowed to enter because we still do not know the severity of the disease or how much it has spread,” Hajj Hasan added.
Hajj Hasan said that despite Europe’s modern laboratories, the situation is still unclear.
Regarding a vegetable shipment which arrived yesterday, Hajj Hasan said that the ministry has taken samples from the vegetables which will be tested for any bacteria. – With AFP