BEIRUT: Future MP Atef Majdalani Wednesday called on the Health Ministry to freeze the licenses of companies involved in the case of illegally imported drugs.

“As the health minister has the exclusive authority to freeze or withdraw the licenses of companies that import drugs, I demand as a preliminary precaution measure to freeze the licenses of the companies involved in the crime until the judiciary issues its rules,” said Majdalani.

In early November, Majdalani brought to light the case of illegally imported drugs and alleged that over 100 different medicines had been illegally brought into the country with forged stamps, health minister signatures and Beirut Arab University laboratory tests.

Majdalani also urged the ministry to declare a list of the illegally imported drugs and launch an inspection campaign and make sure all these drugs were withdrawn from the market.

“The ministry should declare a list of suspicious medicines which were imported to the country since 2009 so that citizens can identify them,” said Majdalani.

“A campaign should also be organized to inspect if any of these drugs remain in market and immediately pull them out,” he added.

Earlier this month Majdalani warned that some of the illegally imported drugs remain on the market and urged that they be withdrawn.

In December, charges were brought against seven individuals, including the brother of a Lebanese minister, over the scandal. The charges included forging official documents and laboratory reports as well as putting public health at risk by allowing unlicensed drugs into the country and distributing them in the market.

Following news of the scandal, Health Minister Ali Hasan Khalil said that all the warehouses involved in the affair had been shut down and the drugs confiscated.