A baker preparing bread in a village in northern Lebanon. (Credit: Illustrative photo AFP)
The Minister of Economy and Trade, Amer Bsat, issued directives on Saturday to “ensure that the current price and weight of the large packet of so-called Arabic bread remain unchanged,” according to a statement from the ministry, as reported by the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
The minister expressed his “concern for citizens’ food security, particularly the stability of basic commodity prices, especially that of the bread packet, amid a new rise in fuel prices,” the statement noted. The government is expected to soon announce an increase in fuel prices.
Bsat issued the necessary directives to the Directorate General of Cereals and Sugar Beets, instructing it to coordinate with the head of the Federation of Bakers’ Syndicates in Lebanon “to ensure that the current price and weight of the large bread packet remain unchanged.” The federation’s head, Nasser Srour, “cooperated by not increasing the price of the bread packet,” the statement added. The Ministry of Economy and Trade also announced that it “will continue its efforts to monitor the prices of all goods and foodstuffs.”
Since September 2024, the price of the large bread packet (840 grams) has been set at 65,000 Lebanese pounds (approximately 75 US cents). This has been made possible through wheat subsidies funded by a World Bank loan. Lebanon has been mired in a severe economic and financial crisis since 2019.
Warning against “unjustified increases”
Furthermore, in anticipation of the imminent implementation of the Cabinet’s decision to raise fuel prices, Mr. Bsat warned “merchants, importers, and especially private generator owners, against arbitrary and unjustified price increases.” In a statement, he stressed that “any violation will be severely punished.”
The Minister of Economy emphasized that “the Consumer Protection Directorate will intensify its monitoring campaigns across various Lebanese regions and will refer anyone responsible for unjustified price increases to the judiciary.” Citizens are also encouraged to take part in this effort by downloading the MOET Digital Services app at: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6483808579, where they can file complaints in case of abuse.
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