Launch of the National Quality Day and the (MoET) selects 30 food industries to receive support

The National Quality Day was launched yesterday during an event organised by the Quality Programme in the Ministry of Economy and Trade (MoET) and which is funded by the European Union.  The event was held at the Adnan Kassar building for Arab Economy and coincided with the International Quality Day.  Minister of Economy and Trade Nicolas Nahhas announced the selection of 30 food industries in Lebanon as recipients of technical; support and counseling from the programme’s expert and so as to enable them to receive the international ISO 22000 and ISO 22005 certificates.
The director of the quality programme at the MoET, Ali Berro, highlighted in his speech the main achievements of the programme namely supporting 14 official laboratories and providing them with modern lab equipments as well as with training and counseling.  From these, 11 were able to receive international certificates from European bodies.  In addition, 50 industries and companies were provided with training and counseling to enable them to adopt and implement quality control systems.  Of these, 40 companies and factories were able to receive the management system certification ISO 9001 as well as the certificate of food safety ISO 22000.
The Head of the Economic Committees Adnan Kassar indicated for his part that commitment to international standards allows a better control of the market and contributes to increasing products competitiveness and will therefore facilitate trade.  He added that securing the ISO is very important to Lebanese industries as it ensures credibility and facilitates external markets.
The heads of operation at the European Union Delegation in Lebanon, Diego Escalona Paturel, noted that the EU will provide aid in 2014 and 2015 towards new food safety technology in addition to supporting the set up of a monitoring body which will promote possibilities of exporting food products.  This support will be through the quality programme at the MoET with the help of experts dispatched by the European Union.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Safir 29 November 2013