Lebanon lifts subsidies on all infant formula

The Lebanese government has lifted subsidies on all infant formula milk, Public Health Minister Firas Abiad said yesterday.

Abiad told reporters the decision is due to the absence of a plan to end the smuggling and selling of subsidised formula on the black market.

He said that the ministry aims to secure the provision of milk for babies, not to merchants who exploit the subsidies.

Abiad explained that the ministry noticed that large quantities of subsidised milk, which is imported, disappears from the market shortly after its arrival, prompted them to conclude that a  portion of subsidised formal milk was being smuggled to Syria.

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