On the Recent Shutdown of a Lebanese Manufacturer: A Call for Professional Oversight and Balanced Governance
The Lebanese Private Sector Network (LPSN) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to public health, consumer safety, and the rule of law. The health of citizens is non-negotiable and must always come first. At the same time, due process, transparency, and respect for the formal economy are indispensable pillars of sound governance.
Across the world, when a potential breach in production quality occurs — whether in food, water, or pharmaceuticals — internationally recognized protocols are followed:
Traceability systems identify and recall affected batches.
Technical investigations are carried out jointly between the company and competent authorities.
Corrective actions are implemented where needed, and only then are public communications issued in coordination with the regulator.
These processes are designed to protect both consumers and responsible businesses, ensuring that public health is safeguarded without causing irreversible harm to hundreds of employees, local suppliers, and value chains before facts are fully verified.
The Network expresses deep concern over the recent pattern of government actions that disregard due process and transparent technical verification. Such measures risk undermining the productive economy and destroying hard-earned trust between the private and public sectors.
Any attempt to exploit regulatory power or media influence for personal or political gain must be exposed and condemned. Accountability must be uniform, science-based, and non-negotiable. The private sector cannot be treated as an easy target for showmanship or selective enforcement. Protecting jobs and fairness is as vital as protecting health.
This moment should serve as a turning point to reform oversight mechanisms, ensuring they are guided by evidence, professional standards, and internationally aligned practices — not by influence, pressure, or sensationalism. Only through balanced and principled governance can Lebanon protect its citizens, preserve its industries, and rebuild confidence in its institutions and formal economy.