Lebanese Ministries Launch Joint Campaign to Protect Dairy Sector

The Lebanese Ministries of Agriculture and Industry have jointly launched a national campaign under the slogan "Keep Natural Milk... Your Natural Choice." This initiative represents a coordinated government effort to protect the country's dairy sector and strengthen food security. It is part of a comprehensive action plan aimed at safeguarding local production, supporting livestock farmers, and promoting food industries that rely on natural milk.

According to an official statement, the campaign culminates a series of integrated regulatory and supervisory measures undertaken by the two ministries. These include intensified inspections of dairy and cheese manufacturing facilities, enforcement of legal actions against establishments failing to comply with national standards, and closing non-compliant factories when necessary. Concurrently, the campaign supports compliant factories and encourages them to purchase locally produced natural milk, thereby securing a sustainable market for farmers raising cattle, sheep, and goats, and reinforcing the stability of Lebanon’s agricultural and food value chains.

The campaign also aims to increase consumer awareness by encouraging buyers to read ingredient labels on cheese and other dairy products before purchase. It seeks to enable consumers to distinguish between products made from natural milk and those partially or entirely based on milk substitutes or vegetable oils, allowing for informed purchasing decisions that protect health, support genuine Lebanese products, and contribute to the national economy.

Minister of Agriculture Nizar Hani stated that the campaign "represents a key milestone within the ministry’s vision to develop the livestock sector and food industries and reflects the state's commitment to protecting both farmers and consumers simultaneously." He noted that "supporting products made from natural milk extends beyond nutritional aspects to include economic, social, and developmental dimensions, as it helps protect thousands of Lebanese families reliant on livestock breeding, milk production, and processing as their primary source of income."

He added, "Choosing products made from natural milk is more than a consumer decision; it is a direct contribution to supporting Lebanese farms, enhancing livestock sustainability, and preserving the quality and authentic identity of our food products. Every package made from natural milk signifies support for national production, additional job opportunities, and added value to the Lebanese economy. Therefore, we urge all consumers to read the ingredients before purchasing, as an informed decision begins with the label and ends with backing genuine Lebanese products."

Furthermore, the Minister affirmed that the Ministry of Agriculture will continue, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and relevant regulatory bodies, to implement monitoring plans for production facilities, ensure adherence to Lebanese standard specifications, enhance market transparency, and encourage food industries that rely on Lebanese raw materials. These efforts aim to establish fair competition principles, improve food safety, and increase consumer confidence in national products.

The two ministries emphasized that the success of this campaign depends on genuine partnership among the state, the industrial sector, farmers, and consumers. They highlighted that consumer choice plays a fundamental role in supporting national production and motivating factories to use local natural milk, which positively impacts rural economies and strengthens food security and agricultural sustainability.

Concluding the campaign, the ministries addressed Lebanese consumers with the message: "Not everything that looks like cheese is cheese, and not all dairy-like products are made from natural milk. Read the ingredients and choose with confidence. Select products made from natural milk because they represent authentic quality, genuine taste, direct support for Lebanese farmers, and reinforcement of the national industry. Keep natural milk... your natural choice."