USAID Lebanon: From the American People
 

PRESS RELEASE

U.S. EXPANDS ZAHLE ‘ONE-STOP EXPORT SHOP’

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Beirut, Lebanon

On December 14, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) visited the Chamber Lab in Zahle to celebrate the expansion and equipping of the lab under USAID’s Quality Control and Certification (QCC) program.  This lab tests and certifies food for export quality and safety standards, a key requirement in the food industry. The lab currently conducts 25 tests per day on fruits, vegetables, dairy and wheat products, including products from 30 small-scale farmers and producers.  USAID provides training for lab staff as well as technical assistance to acquire laboratory international certification, ISO 17025, by May 2012 thereby enabling tests to be recognized internationally. Lebanon currently has a limited number of testing laboratories. 

USAID, through the QCC, is equipping laboratories in Zahle, Tripoli, and Saida to create regional hub food testing centers. These ‘one-stop export shops’ help small and medium scale Lebanese food producers comply with export market standards, increasing the competitiveness and revenues of Lebanese farmers and producers. These laboratories serve agro-processors and food exporters in the main agricultural areas of Lebanon: Akkar, North Lebanon, the Bekaa, and South Lebanon.  Additionally, USAID has helped the Chambers develop a business plan for the labs to improve management with the goal of financial self-sufficiency.

The USAID Quality Control and Certification program started in July 2009 with a total budget of $3 million.  By providing the needed food testing facilities, results of the QCC program complement two ongoing USAID programs to help local farmers and food processors to improve product quality and create value chains for easier access to local and international markets, which help create jobs and increase revenue in the rural economy.