BEIRUT: The Health Ministry decided Friday to shut down a pharmacy in the Beirut neighborhood of Ashrafieh, citing the establishment’s lack of a proper license as well as the sale of illegal medications.

The ministry's inspector closed the Vigne Rouge upon instructions by Minister Ali Hasan Khalil.

Khalil's decision was based on decree number 5818 and laws governing the practices of pharmacists and other drug-related regulations as well as reports provided by certified inspectors on the pharmacy.

The reports indicated that Vigne Rouge lacked the proper license from the Health Ministry in to open and run a pharmacy and that it sold legal and illegal medications.