The Director of regulation and activities at the Ministry of Commerce, Samy Kolli, confirmed on Sunday that the flour ingredient is available on the market in “sufficient” quantities.
In a press statement, Mr. Kolli refuted “misinformation ” indicating “pressure” on the flour ingredient in the market, highlighting that all consumables’ goods are available and are subject to field monitoring by the ministries of Commerce and agriculture, especially under the current sanitary conditions.
The official added that “malicious actors provide baseless news about the shortage of flour ingredient in the market for certain purposes.”
In this context, the Director stressed that the 432 mills across the country are “currently producing without interruption”, as they are not allowed to make technical stops in case of any emergency.
These mills receive a significant amount of soft wheat estimated at 317,000 quintals used to produce 24,000 quintals of flour, which is “enough for us and enough for our neighbors,” says Mr. Kolli, adding that of this amount, 5,100 quintals are used by bakeries permanently.
The ministries of Commerce and Agriculture have recently noted, according to Mr. Kolli, in the framework of joint field task forces, some shortcomings, especially in relation to the refusal of some bakers to deal with the billing system and the refusal to acquire the flour and buy it from wholesalers at exorbitant prices.
The joint task forces also noted the refusal of bakery owners to acquire bags with a capacity of 50 kg of flour, “a new phenomenon that will make it easier for some to convert this material to make things other than bread and speculate on it,” adds the Director.
“The commerce sector holds these parties responsible for these actions as they expose themselves to judicial follow-up and sanctions that may reach until the closure of the shop,” he said, stressing that “the sector will be mobilized for them”.
