- The Ministry of Environment (MoE) has developed and submitted to the Council of Ministers (CoM) a draft decree on national measures regarding Biosafety based on the Cartagena Protocol, however this decree is not endorsed yet. - The MoE has developed a National Biosafety Framework which defines sets of biosafety guidelines based on the Cartagena Protocol - In the absence of endorsement of the National Biosafety Decree, current laws are still applying that indirectly apply to biosafety such us the Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Measures" Law # 778 dated 28/11/2006 under the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)]

Under a United Nations Environment Programme - Global Environment Facility (UNEP-GEF) project (GF/2716-01-4319), executed by the Lebanese Ministry of Environment (MoE) in 2004–2005 with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the country developed its National Biosafety Framework in 2005 in collaboration with diverse stakeholders. To enact the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB) nationally, the Ministry drafted a national biosafety decree and submitted it to the Council of Ministers (CoM), the Decree was approved by the CoM in its decision No. 53 on November 27, 2014, though it remains unissued till present; this decree would create an 18-member National Council on Biosafety, drawing from ministries like Environment, Agriculture, and Public Health, plus research bodies, industry groups, academia, concerned NGOs, and consumer advocates, to oversee the issue of living modified organisms (LMOs) in Lebanon in accordance with the provisions of the Cartagena Protocol. Pending the issuance of the National Biosafety Decree, the following current legislations and regulations are still applied in Lebanon: A. Legal and Regulatory Framework: - Current rules relevant to LMOs imports derive principally from Law No. 778 dated 28 November 2006 “Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Measures”. The law prohibits in its Article 14 the entry of plants or plant derivatives if it is genetically modified and the modification may create risks or damage to humans or animals or plants. Article 16 of the law explicitly states: "Living Modified Organisms shall not be allowed for entry", thus putting an unconditional categorical ban on LMOs. Article 16 also assigns the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) to issue instructions regulating plant quarantine procedures, including (among others) the prohibiting of LMOs imports. In addition, Article 19 explicitly obliges the importer to provide "a statement verifying whether the shipment or part of it, is genetically modified" as a mandatory border disclosure procedure alongside other required import documents. - Based on Article 16 of the Quarantine Law, the MoA issued on August 26, 2011 Decision #781/1 regulating “Import of Seeds for Planting Purposes (Excluding Potatoes)” and Decision #783/1 regulating “Import of Propagating Material for Fruit Trees”, both Decisions restricted imports of the said seeds and propagation materials if genetically modified or harmful to human and animal health or environment. - The MoA issued recently on 13 October 2025, Decision 683/1 on Import of Seeds for Planting Purposes (Excluding Potatoes). This decision repealed the Decision #781/1 (dated 26/8/2011) and is still banning the imports of seeds if genetically modified or harmful to human and animal health or environment, and requires in its Article 3 (Item 10) a mandatory declaration from the producer confirming that the imported seed varieties (fodder, sugar beet, legumes, and vegetables) are not genetically modified. - MoA issued as well the Decision No. 307/1 dated 15 July 2026 (Conditions for Importing Propagation Material for Fruit Trees), this decision officially repealed and replaced Decision No. 783/1 (dated 26/8/2011). Under Article 4 (Item 7), Decision No. 307/1 requires an official statement issued by the producer confirming that imported fruit tree propagation materials 'do not pose any danger to humans, animals, or environmental health, and that these varieties are not genetically modified.' - Together, Decisions 683/1 of 2025 and 307/1 of 2026 cover all planting and propagation materials, shifting the burden of proof directly to the producer/manufacturer in the country of origin prior to shipment (precautionary approach). - In conclusion the import of GMOs/LMOs is still prohibited in Lebanon currently, accordingly Law #778 requires amendments, after Lebanon's ratification of the Cartagena Protocol via Law #31 (October 16, 2008) and accession in 2013, given that the Cartagena Protocol regulates the transboundary movement of LMOs while Law #778 totally bans the import of LMOs, and the provisions of the CPB as international Treaty take precedence and shall apply at national level. - A National Committee on Biotechnology and Biosafety (including 13 members from ministries, research intuitions, academia, and experts) was formed by Ministerial Decision from MoA#612/1 (October 11, 2010) to advise on biotech use in agricultural production, environmental/health impacts, and to propose national regulations and policies in this regards—but it met only initially and ceased activity. Once the National Decree on Biosafety is issued and become operational, this National Committee will be replaced with the National Council on Biosafety proposed by the National Biosafety Decree. B. Institutional and Implementation Framework - The Food Safety Law # 35 dated 26/11/2015 established a "Food Safety Lebanese Commission" (FSLC) to be the designated body responsible for the enforcement of this law, and states in its Article (19) that the Ministry of Agriculture in coordination with the "Food Safety Lebanese Commission" sets the criteria and standards that should be met by the genetically modified food, but these criteria were not set yet, since the safety assessment of genetically modified foods has not been prioritized, as prevailing political conditions continue to impede the full operationalization and enforcement of the national Food Safety Law. However, in a recent development, a significant institutional milestone was achieved with the official appointment of the first Board of Commissioners “The Food Safety Lebanese Commission” (FSLC) pursuant to CoM Decision No. 50 dated 24 October 2025. The (FSLC) is mandated to function within a public–private partnership framework, facilitating structured coordination between relevant public authorities and private sector stakeholders. This governance model is intended to strengthen regulatory implementation, enhance compliance mechanisms, and ensure effective oversight in alignment with internationally recognized food safety standards in Lebanon. C. National Policies and Strategic Framework Lebanon's 2016 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) includes 13 priority areas and 18 targets; Priority Area #2 ("Genetic Diversity") features National Target #3, aiming for an operational Cartagena Protocol mechanism by 2030. Furthermore, in 2025, Lebanon has updated its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in line with the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and has submitted it to the CBD, and has set a specific National Target (National Target 20) in relation to the Cartagena Protocol, as follows: “National Target 20: By 2030, the implementation mechanism of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is operational”. Under this National Target, seven National Actions were set in this regard.

In Lebanon, the management of pharmaceutical products is governed by dedicated laws and regulations. Currently, no laws address the use of medicines containing GMOs or LMOs, nor do any specific restrictions exist on researching, producing, or marketing such medicines. The pending biosafety draft national decree, submitted by the MoE to the CoM, excludes in its Article 3 from its scope, pharmaceutical materials with LMOs that are covered by treaties outside the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) or the CPB or governed by specific international bodies, as well as the use of LMOs used in human gene therapy.

Lebanon's National Biosafety Framework, developed in 2005, incorporates regulations and procedures on r the transit and contained use of LMOs. The draft National Biosafety Decree, submitted by the MoE to the CoM, addresses LMO transit through Lebanon and contained use, but the decree awaits issuance. No national rules currently govern LMO transit across Lebanese territory or transboundary movements for contained use; instead, Law #778 on "Quarantine and Phytosanitary Measures" (2006) still applies, though it completely prohibits LMO imports to Lebanon.

The draft National Biosafety Decree, submitted by Lebanon's MoE to the CoM and still awaiting issuance, sets legal requirements and an administrative process for decision-making on transboundary LMO movements and intentional introduction into the environment, and for the accuracy of information contained in the notification. As per the draft decree, imports of LMOs require prior approval and authorization from the National Council on Biosafety (created by the decree), based on an application submitted by the importer to the Competent National Authority, including detailed information on LMO’s import, introduction, and use. If scientific certainty is lacking, the Council can request more data from the applicant within a set timeframe; failure to provide it leads to rejection of the application, while sufficient submission will result in issuing the authorization. These mechanisms remain inactive pending the decree issuance. For now, Law #778 ("Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Measures," dated November 28, 2006) banning LMO imports under its Article 16, is still applied, blocking any intentional introductions of GMOs/LMOs to Lebanon despite inquiries from individuals and companies—no formal applications have been filed.

Lebanon's draft National Biosafety Decree, submitted by the MoE to the CoM as the key legislation for implementing the CPB at national level, and still awaiting endorsement, mandates prior approval from the National Biosafety Council (formed under the decree) for importing or using any LMOs. This requires an application to be submitted to the National Competent Authority with specified details; approvals are issued annually, renewed yearly with updated information, and importers must notify the National Competent Authority one week before each shipment's arrival, detailing the LMO type and intended use. If scientific certainty is lacking, the Council may request additional data and reject applications if it's not provided with needed data or deemed insufficient. These rules are inactive currently without the endorsement of the decree. Instead, Law #778 ("Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Measures," November 28, 2006) currently applies, banning all LMO imports under its Article 16. Furthermore, the MoA issued two Decisions recently in this regard: • Decision No. 683/1 dated 13 November 2025 ('Conditions for Importing Seeds Intended for Planting, Except Potato') officially repealed MoA Decision No. 781/1 (dated 26/8/2001) and required in its article 3 (Item 10) a mandatory declaration from the producer confirming that imported seed varieties (fodder, sugar beet, legumes, and vegetables) are not genetically modified. • Decision No. 307/1 dated 15 July 2026 ('Conditions for Importing Propagation Material for Fruit Trees') officially repealed and replaced Decision No. 783/1 (dated 26/8/2011). Under Article 4 (Item 7), Decision No. 307/1 requires an official statement issued by the producer confirming that imported fruit tree propagation materials 'do not pose any danger to humans, animals, or environmental health, and that these varieties are not genetically modified.' Food Safety Law #35 (November 24, 2015) created the Food Safety Lebanese Commission, and states in its Article 19 that the MoA in coordination with the mentioned Commission would set the standards that should be met by the genetically modified food —but progress stalled with the complex situation in the country. In a recent development, a significant institutional milestone was achieved with the official appointment of the First Board of Commissioners pursuant to Decision No. 50 dated 24 October 2025.

Lebanon's draft National Biosafety Decree, submitted by the MoE to the CoM but still awaiting endorsement, establishes a review mechanism for the decisions taken by the National Council on Biosafety (created under the same decree) concerning LMO transboundary movements, in case of objection received from the applicant. According to this mechanism, the importer may submit an objection to a decision taken by the National Council on Biosafety about LMOs. The Council will then convene within a time limit of two months to review the application and take necessary decision to change its previous decision or not. If the Council doesn't take any decision in this regard during said two-month period, its silence constitutes a rejection of the objection. The decision of the Council can be appealed before the Council of State in accordance with the procedure governing the administrative proceedings.

Lebanon has not yet implemented the national measures and procedures for intentional transboundary movements of LMOs outlined in the draft National Biosafety Decree prepared by the MoE and submitted to the CoM, as the decree remains unendorsed. This draft serves as Lebanon's primary legislation for fulfilling the CPB; upon endorsement and activation, the MoE will begin issuing related decisions on LMO transboundary movements, which will be published on the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH).

Lebanon ratified the CPB in 2008 and acceded to it in 2013. Subsequently, the MoE drafted a National Biosafety Decree as the primary national legislation to implement the Protocol, but it remains unendorsed. Without enacted biosafety legislation, Lebanon has not pursued any bilateral, regional, or multilateral agreements on intentional LMO transboundary movements. LMOs are still banned from entry under Article 16 of the Quarantine Law, pending the endorsement and activation of the National Biosafety Decree.

Lebanon's draft National Biosafety Decree establishes a National Council for Biosafety assigned to assess, manage, and monitor LMO risks to the environment taking into account risks to human health. The Council must define risk assessment procedures and related guiding principles, and the information required for risk assessment, and must survey existing LMOs in the Lebanese market before the issuance of the decree, assess the risks associated with the said LMOs and consequently to classify them into four categories according to the level of risks that they constitute, review and update these four categories regularly, and recommend risk-minimizing measures and survey programs, and develop and propose monitoring/inspection plans. According to the draft Decree, risk assessments should precede the National Council decisions regarding the import, and should be funded by the applicants, and conducted scientifically in accredited labs according to biosafety requirements, and may involve international experts if local expertise is lacking. For unintentional LMO releases, the draft Decree states that if an unintentional release of a potential harmful LMO into the environment occurs, the National Competent Authority (NCA) must notify neighboring countries that could be affected and biosafety organizations with details on possible adverse impacts on biodiversity and risk management options. According to the Decree, the NCA should also take necessary measures for containing local damage that may result on the Lebanese soil from this release. However, the decree is still not applied pending its endorsement. Food Safety Law #35 (November 24, 2015) created the Food Safety Lebanese Commission which will be in charge for GMO/GMF risk assessments on health. Regarding training and capacity-building: Several laboratories in Lebanon, including LARI, IRI, CCIA–Tripoli, AUST, Global Inspection and Certification Services (GICS) S.A.L, and RBML FOOD LABS currently possess the technical capacity to detect, identify, and quantify GMOs/LMOs using molecular biology techniques. Regarding LMO risk assessment (RA), AUST participated in the CBD International Training Workshop for Eastern, Central and Western Asian Countries on Risk Assessment of LMOs held in Antalya, Türkiye, in 2022. This workshop, organized under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, focused on the scientific and practical aspects of LMO Risk Assessment, including problem formulation, hazard identification, exposure assessment, risk characterization, and the application of Risk Assessment guidance for decision-making, with the objective of strengthening national and regional capacities for science-based environmental Risk Assessment of LMOs. Despite these capacity-building activities, Lebanon does not currently conduct formal LMO Risk Assessment, as LMOs are still forbidden from entering the country since the National Biosafety Decree is not issued yet, and the related national process for LMOs transboundary movement according to the Biosafety Protocol didn’t start yet. Therefore, no applications for the deliberate release of LMOs into the environment are being received yet, and no national Risk Assessment programme is operational. Furthermore, no dedicated national training programmes or practical activities on LMO risk management (RM) or post-release monitoring have been organized to date. Regarding Facilities and equipment: No adequate facilities support LMO risk assessment, management, or monitoring. Several labs in Lebanon are carrying out LMOs detection and identification, however Lebanon has not yet begun detecting and identifying the LMOs or specific traits that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, nor assessing the risk, and/or monitoring LMOs with potential harmful impact on biodiversity

Lebanon's draft National Biosafety Decree, submitted by the MoE to the CoM but not yet endorsed, creates a National Council for Biosafety tasked—among other duties—with proposing mechanisms to prevent unintentional LMO releases into the environment and the emergency responses that should be activated if such releases occur. Moreover, Article 12 of the draft decree sets the outlines procedures to be adopted by Lebanon in case an unintentional release of a potentially harmful LMO into the environment occurs: the National Competent Authority must immediately notify potentially affected neighboring countries and relevant international biosafety organizations, and the article specifies the type of information that should be included in the specifying notification content. It also requires the National Competent Authority to take all necessary local measures to containing any local damage on Lebanese soil caused by such release, with costs for destroying or repatriating the LMOs borne by the party responsible for the unintentional transboundary release. These measures remain non-operational, as the decree awaits endorsement.

Article 15 of Lebanon's draft National Biosafety Decree (submitted by the MoE to the CoM but not yet endorsed) outlines requirements for handling, packaging, and transporting LMOs intended for direct use as food/feed/processing, contained use, or intentional environmental introduction. However, this decree remains non-operational pending endorsement. Certified lab testing: Lebanon has established laboratory capacity for sampling and molecular detection of GMOs/LMOs, mainly for food, feed, seeds, and agricultural materials. Several public and private laboratories are equipped to perform PCR-based GMO detection using internationally recognized methods and quality standards. Public institutions • LARI: Performs qualitative GMO detection using conventional PCR for raw maize materials and maize flour. The laboratory supports GMO screening for maize; however, no GMO testing activities were reported during the current reporting period. • IRI: Performs qualitative and quantitative GMO detection using real-time PCR (Rotor-Gene Q). The laboratory is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited for GMO testing and conducts screening, identification and quantification of CaMV 35S promoter (P-35S), NOS terminator (T-NOS), and FMV promoter in maize, soybean, and processed food products (e.g., frozen French fries, nuts, flours, and pasta). The laboratory has a testing capacity of approximately 20 samples/day. • CCIA–Tripoli: Performs qualitative GMO screening using PCR-based commercial detection kits, primarily targeting the CaMV 35S promoter (P-35S) in food and agricultural commodities. Private institutions: • AUST GMO testing lab: serves as a national reference facility for GMO testing and performs screening, identification, and quantification of GMO targets using real-time PCR platforms (ABI 7300 and QuantStudio™ 5). Operating under ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, the laboratory applies ISO standards, ENGL recommendations, and EURL-GMFF validated methods. It has analytical capacity for a wide range of plant species, including maize, soybean, potato, wheat, rice, sugar beet, tomato, watermelon, courgette, and other plant-derived commodities, as well as feed samples. The laboratory supports testing across diverse matrices, including raw plant materials, seeds, flours, and processed food products, with the capability to detect a broad range of transgenic elements and GMO events. • GICS lab: Performs qualitative and quantitative GMO detection using real-time PCR in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements, including screening and identification of P-35S and T-NOS. • RBML Food lab: Performs qualitative GMO detection using real-time PCR, following EN ISO 21571:2005 and ISO 21569:2005 methodologies. The laboratory conducts screening for P-35S and T-NOS. Identification and quantification tests performed with partner outside Lebanon. The testing scope includes maize, soybean, cotton, sugar beet, and oilseed rape. Trainings in LMO Detection: During the reporting period, Lebanon's capacity in LMO/GMO analysis was further strengthened through a series of international and regional training activities and collaborative initiatives, primarily led by the AUST GMO Testing Laboratory. The laboratory's team received advanced expertise in LMO risk assessment through participation in the CBD's Western/Central/Eastern Asia Training Course held in Antalya, Türkiye (October 2022), organized under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Moreover, an AUST representative attended the International Conference on GMO Analysis and New Genomic Techniques in Berlin, Germany (2023), further consolidating the laboratory's engagement with cutting-edge analytical developments. In 2025, the technical Director for the GMO testing laboratory at AUST, was designated by the Ministry of Environment as the representative for the CBD Network of Laboratories' online discussions on LMO detection and identification, reflecting Lebanon's growing role in international biosafety governance. Regarding collaboration, AUST continues to serve as a regional center of excellence, organizing training courses for laboratories across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region on GMO analysis in accordance with ISO 17025 standards, and moderating a regional collaboration network in partnership with the European Union Reference Laboratory for Genetically Modified Food and Feed (EURL-GMFF). While broader MENA network activities were temporarily on hold, a focused regional collaboration has recently been reactivated among laboratories in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, aiming to harmonize analytical approaches, exchange expertise, and develop joint research and surveillance activities related to GMO detection and biosafety

Lebanon's MoE serves as the national focal point for coordinating with the CBD Secretariat on the CPB. The draft National Biosafety Decree—Lebanon's proposed framework for the Protocol implementation—designates the MoE as the National Competent Authority for all LMO-related matters under the decree. This authority handles the Protocol's administrative functions and acts on its behalf. The draft decree creates a National Council for Biosafety of 18 members from various concerned institutions headed by the National Competent Authority, to oversee national LMO and biosafety issues —including case-by-case decisions on LMO imports or releases. The draft decree was submitted by the MoE to the CoM, still awaits endorsement and thus remains non-operational yet.

Lebanon has not yet implemented national procedures for the CPB, as the draft National Biosafety Decree—which outlines these mechanisms—remains unendorsed. Without the decree's endorsement, Lebanon has did not start yet by issuing decisions on LMO transboundary movements or releases for posting on the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH). Only basic information is shared on the BCH, such as the national competent authority, focal point, experts, and Lebanon's National Biosafety Framework.

Lebanon has made limited progress on Article 20 implementation during the current reporting period amid ongoing political and economic challenges. No substantive BCH submissions occurred post-2022 due to the absence of operational biosafety legislation and institutional coordination gaps. Indeed, Lebanon didn’t start yet the implementation of the national procedures related to the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol, since the draft National Decree on Biosafety, which sets the national mechanisms for the implementation of the Protocol at national level, is not endorsed yet, therefore Lebanon didn’t start yet its decision-making processes on transboundary movement and release of LMOs, in order to post such decisions on the Global BCH. Accordingly, the MoE focal point (Ms. Lara Samaha) maintains basic BCH contact details, but no risk assessments, decisions, or LMO import data have been published since it is not applicable yet. Regarding the national BCH, Lebanon has established in 2004 its national BCH http://biosafety.moe.gov.lb//, where information on the NCA, national focal point, list of national experts, and national reports done in Lebanon in relation to the Biosafety Protocol (specifically the National Biosafety Framework) etc… were posted but the website needs to be updated and upgraded to activate its portal and to become part of the global BCH.

Lebanon's draft National Biosafety Decree permits the protection of confidential information submitted by applicants seeking authorization for LMO use. Applicants can mark confidential portions of required information or documents with a stamp or clear indicator; and in this case the National Competent Authority and National Biosafety Council (both established by the same draft decree), along with their staff, experts, and agents, must protect such information against disclosure, use, or appropriation. Even if marked confidential, the following remain public: the applicant's name/address, a general LMO description, a risk assessment summary (covering risks on biodiversity conservation/sustainable use and human health), and emergency response methods/plans. Post-Withdrawal and Penalties: If an application is withdrawn, confidentiality persists, with marked materials returned to the applicant—including research/development data. Violations of these provisions constitute a misdemeanor under the Lebanese Penal Code for disclosing protected information. However, the decree awaits endorsement and is not yet operational.

Lebanon advances capacity-building in selected areas amid delays in approving its National Biosafety Decree. Technology transfer features EURL-GMFF and CBD training for labs like AUST's GMO testing facility. Socioeconomic considerations and public perception assessments include research papers from Lebanese universities: AUST, NDU,and LAU. Public awareness and education involve educational programs at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels. Before the reporting period, Lebanon benefited from GEF funds to develop its National Biosafety Framework through the UNEP-/GEF Project number G.F./2716-01-4319 "Development of National Biosafety Framework for Lebanon" which was executed by the Ministry of Environment from February 2004 until December 2005 in partnership with UNDP. Within the same project, Lebanon has also benefited from GEF funds to develop the draft National Biosafety Decree and to establish its national BCH http://biosafety.moe.gov.lb//, but the website needs to be updated and upgraded to activate its portal and to become part of the global BCH. Following this project, Lebanon didn’t initiate any process to access funds from GEF for biosafety issues, although such support will be needed in the future especially for capacity-building on biosafety, once the National Biosafety Decree will be endorsed and Lebanon will start its process of decision-making regarding LMOs.

Lebanon maintains minimal implementation of Article 23 (Public Awareness and Participation) since 2022, constrained by economic crisis, political instability, and lack of operational biosafety legislation. No new dedicated national GMO/LMO awareness campaigns were launched post-2022. Research papers were published by NDU and LAU. AUST is finalizing a project on population perception to GMO in Lebanon. NGOs such as Buzuruna Juzuruna promote agroecology opposing GMOs through seed-saving. Online and Academic Courses on Biotechnology/GMO/LMO Topics 1. LU, Faculty of Agronomy: Offers the mandatory master's course "Biotechnologies and Biosafety" for Plant Production students, including practical GMO testing activities conducted at AUST laboratories through inter-university collaboration. 2. AUST, Faculty of Health Sciences: Integrates GMO/LMO detection, identification, and analysis into undergraduate and graduate curricula and provides regular training services using continuously updated testing protocols. 3. AUB, Department of Biology: Offers courses in molecular biology, genetics, and biotechnology that address genetic modification technologies, biosafety principles, and related research applications 4. LAU: Incorporates biotechnology-related topics within science programs and research activities. 5. University of Balamand (UoB), Department of Biology: Provides courses in biotechnology and related fields, supported by well-equipped teaching and research laboratories. 6. BAU: Includes biotechnology courses covering genetic engineering techniques and their applications in agriculture and related disciplines. 7. LIU: Incorporates biotechnology, genetic engineering, and related concepts within agriculture and food science curricula. 8. NDU: Covers biotechnology, molecular biology, genetics, and related biosafety concepts within broader life science curricula and research activities. 9. USEK: Includes biotechnology, genetics, molecular biology, and related biosafety topics within science and agricultural programs.

Lebanon has not yet implemented the CPB provisions nationally, as the draft National Biosafety Decree remains unendorsed. Laws exist regulating seed imports, but no monitoring mechanisms are in place. Pending the issuance of the national biosafety decree, Lebanon continues enforcing Law #778 ("Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Measures," November 28, 2006), which bans genetically modified plants or derivatives from entry, under its Article 14. Accordingly, no LMO transboundary movements is occurring ed with Parties or non-Parties, and GMO/LMO imports/exports remain prohibited during this reporting period per Quarantine Law #778 and MoA Decisions #781/1 and #783/1 (both dated August 26, 2011), requiring importers of seeds (fodder, vegetables, legumes except potatoes) or fruit tree propagation materials to certify they are non-genetically modified.

Please use the space below to provide further details on the implementation of Article 25 in your country: Lebanon's draft National Biosafety Decree establishes sanctions for violating its provisions, including detecting illegal transboundary LMO movements. These penalties take effect only after the decree's endorsement and enforcement.

Lebanon has not yet begun its decision-making process on LMOs, as the draft National Biosafety Decree—submitted by the MoE to the CoM—remains unendorsed and non-operational. While no official assessment of socio-economic impacts has been conducted during the current reporting period, recent research studies by Notre Dame University (NDU) have begun exploring the general scope of potential economic benefits and challenges associated with GMO adoption in Lebanese agriculture.

Exchange of scientific, technical and institutional knowledge: During the reporting period, Lebanon actively engaged in the exchange of scientific, technical, and institutional knowledge on LMOs and biosafety at the national, regional, and international levels. The AUST GMO Testing Laboratory, serving as the National Reference Laboratory, contributed to this exchange through participation in key international scientific and technical activities, including the CBD Western/Central/Eastern Asia Training Course on LMO Risk Assessment (Antalya, Türkiye, October 2022) and the International Conference on GMO Analysis and New Genomic Techniques (Berlin, Germany, 2023). In 2025, Dr. Gretta Abou Sleymane, Technical Director of AUST’s GMO Testing Laboratory, was designated by the Ministry of Environment as Lebanon’s representative in the CBD Network of Laboratories’ online discussions on LMO detection and identification. At the regional level, AUST reactivated collaboration with laboratories in Jordan and Egypt, focusing on the exchange of technical expertise, harmonization of analytical approaches, and joint research in GMO detection and biosafety. At the national level, knowledge exchange was further supported through collaboration between AUST researchers and the Plant Quarantine Service at the Ministry of Agriculture. Research on LMO Detection, Monitoring, and Emerging Biotechnologies: During the reporting period, Lebanon has engaged in research activities addressing the identification and monitoring of LMOs, whereby researchers at the AUST GMO Testing Laboratory, in collaboration with the Plant Quarantine Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and the faculty of agriculture at the Lebanese University, published an ISO-compliant molecular screening study of imported seed lots in Lebanon in 2026. The study established baseline information for national GMO surveillance and contributed to the identification of GMO-related genetic elements in imported agricultural materials. AUST has also conducted research on gene-edited crops, including the development of CRISPR/Cas9-based analytical protocols, contributing to national scientific knowledge on emerging biotechnologies and their potential implications for biosafety and biodiversity. Research on the Socioeconomic Impacts and Agricultural Potential of GMOs Lebanon has contributed to research and information exchange on the socioeconomic dimensions of LMO use in agriculture and food systems. In 2023, researchers from NDU published a study evaluating the potential of GMO adoption to reduce poverty and support sustainable agricultural development in Lebanon, using the Sannine–Baskinta apple sector as a pilot case. Moreover, in 2024, they proposed in a published study a framework for the strategic adoption of GM crops in Lebanon, incorporating considerations of supportive policies, infrastructure development, farmer training, and market access. Research on Public Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions of GMOs Public awareness and education on GMOs and biosafety have been supported through academic research and institutional outreach during the reporting period. In 2025, researchers from the LAU published a nationwide study examining public knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions toward genetically modified foods in Lebanon, including an assessment of how educational interventions may influence awareness and acceptance among the general population. Collectively, these published studies contribute to the national evidence base on the broader agricultural, economic, and societal implications of LMOs, including their potential effects on local farming communities. Higher-Education Programs related to GMO/LMO and Biosafety Several Lebanese higher-education institutions incorporate biotechnology, molecular biology, genetics, genetic engineering, GMO/LMO-related topics, and biosafety within their academic curricula and research activities. These include the AUB, AUST, Balamand University, BAU, LAU, Lebanese University, LIU, NDU, and USEK. At Lebanese University, Faculty of Agronomy, the mandatory master's course “Biotechnologies and Biosafety” for Plant Production students includes practical GMO testing activities conducted at AUST laboratories through inter-university collaboration. AUST also integrates GMO/LMO detection, identification, and analysis into relevant undergraduate and graduate education and provides specialized laboratory training using updated analytical protocols. In addition, AUST continues to host master’s theses on GMO and LMO detection, identification, and quantification, contributing to the training of scientists with specialized biosafety competencies. The laboratory has the capacity to organize training courses for laboratories across the MENA region in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 standards, extending technical education and knowledge exchange beyond Lebanon. Strengthening capacities for the implementation of the Protocol Lebanon has taken concrete steps to strengthen national capacities for the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol and to expand technical capacity for LMO detection. The AUST GMO Testing Laboratory, serving as the National Reference Laboratory, has continued to strengthen its analytical infrastructure and maintain ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation through its third renewal cycle. Multiple laboratories, including LARI, IRI, CCIAT–Tripoli, GICS and RBML, maintain GMO analysis capacities across a range of matrices. The Chamber of Commerce in Zahle is also developing a new molecular biology laboratory for GMO testing, further expanding national testing capacity. Country engagement in bilateral, regional or multilateral activities for the implementation of the Protocol during the current reporting period No formal bilateral, regional, or multilateral agreements specifically dedicated to the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol were reported during the current reporting period. Nevertheless, Lebanon has engaged in relevant bilateral, regional, and multilateral scientific and technical activities, including regional laboratory collaboration with Jordan and Egypt and participation in CBD-led technical mechanisms. Through the Ministry of Agriculture, Lebanon also participates in the FAO GM Foods Platform, an international information-sharing mechanism established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to facilitate the exchange of information on the safety assessment of foods derived from recombinant-DNA plants in accordance with Codex Alimentarius guidelines. The Platform provides access to information submitted by participating countries, including food safety assessment summaries, regulatory decisions, authorized genetically modified (GM) events, and relevant scientific and technical resources. It also supports the use and exchange of food safety assessment information in situations involving the low-level presence (LLP) of recombinant-DNA plant material in food.

Kindly refer to respective section from the submitted First national report in Lebanon.