Kuwait mulls ban on Lebanese fruits and vegetables

Dubai: Kuwait will most likely ban the import of Lebanese fruits and vegetables after the country’s Ministry of Commerce held a meeting with senior importers to discuss the matter, local media reported.

According to well informed source, verbal instructions have been issued to halt the import of Lebanese fruits and vegetables after some companies were planning to import fruits and vegetables from Lebanon.

The “possible” Kuwaiti ban follows a similar ban imposed by Saudi Arabia after it seized over 5 million pills of an amphetamine drug known as Captagon, hidden in a shipment of pomegranate coming from Lebanon. The official Saudi Press Agency said four Saudis and one other person it did not identify were arrested.

In a statement released by KUNA, Kuwait Foreign Ministry expressed full support to Saudi Arabia's decision to ban the entry of vegetables and fruits from Lebanon due to their exploitation by drug smugglers.

The ministry stated the Saudi sovereign decision comes within the framework of Kingdom’s keenness to prevent illegal drugs from entering its borders and to protect Saudi citizens from it.

The ministry concluded its statement by calling on Lebanese authorities to work to ensure that their exports are free from any prohibited materials that would subject their exports to bans and prohibitions.