Government officials and business leaders stood together Friday in calling for stricter food safety measures as news broke that a man convicted of selling spoiled meat had been sentenced to one year in prison and ordered to pay a fine of LL50 million.

Arslan Sinno, vice chairman of the Lebanese-American Chamber of Commerce, told a gathering at the chamber’s offices in Sanayeh that Lebanon should update its laws to be in line with international standards.

“We want to nourish the Lebanese market and economy to give it international exposure,” Sinno said.

Industry Minister Vreij Sabounjian later took the floor, promising to “promote strategies aimed at improving food safety in Lebanon.”