Libya has held meetings with a major U.S. inspection company to pave the way for installing modern inspection equipment at all Libyan ports, airports, and border crossings.
The revelation was made by the Tripoli based Minister of Interior, Major General Emad Al-Trabelsi, speaking live on television and social media during yesterday’s Fourth Ordinary Cabinet Meeting of 2026, held in the city of Zliten.
The comment came on the background of the public outcry caused by the recent pre-trial detention by the Public Prosecutor of personnel charged with allowing the import of unhealthy pesticides.
In the same Cabinet meeting, Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, Abdel Hamid Aldabaiba, said in an unprecedented outburst of anger that the head of the Food and Drug Control Centre must face serious charges.
Call for replacement of management of Food & Drug Control Centre
“We must tell the incompetent exactly that—they are incompetent. Look at the failure of the Food and Drug Control Centre, which allowed toxins and filth to enter our country. I am calling on the oversight authority to replace the management of the Food and Drug Control Centre, which falls under its jurisdiction.”, Aldabaiba said angrily.
Upgrading inspection and oversight systems at border crossings
The Minister of Interior, meanwhile, affirmed that the government is working on a comprehensive project to upgrade inspection and oversight systems at border crossings—in line with the Prime Minister’s directives and in coordination with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State.
Necessity to engage specialized international food inspection companies
He explained that food safety oversight is a vital issue requiring urgent attention, noting that local capabilities alone are insufficient to monitor the large volumes of imported food. This necessitates engaging specialized international companies in partnership with relevant authorities to help enhance oversight capabilities and improve the efficiency of the inspection system.
Decisive decisions and robust enforcement measures required
He added that the issues of food safety oversight, fuel smuggling, and illegal migration) require decisive decisions and robust enforcement measures. He emphasized that the government possesses the necessary capabilities and competent bodies to implement these measures, and that Libyan citizens look to the government as the entity responsible for addressing these issues and achieving tangible results on the ground.
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