November 6, 2026
It was announced in Beirut that a new regulatory mechanism had been reached that aims to facilitate export movement through the port of Beirut and reduce the administrative and logistical burdens on workers in the sector, in coordination between the relevant unions and the customs and port departments.
In detail, the Syndicate of Air, Land and Sea Transport Brokers in Lebanon and the Syndicate of Licensed Goods Clearers announced, on Thursday, November 5, 2026, in a joint statement, this new mechanism related to scanning procedures for containers prepared for export through the port, in cooperation with the Lebanese Customs Administration and the Beirut Port Administration and Investment.
The two unions explained that the Beirut Port Administration and Investment issued Circular No. 7654 dated October 29, 2026, which specified the mechanism for subjecting containers entering the port and prepared for export to scanning operations using “Scanner” devices, as of November 2, in accordance with the approved mechanisms and in accordance with customs control requirements and the results of the actual inspection to ensure that the required procedures are met.
In this context, the two unions indicated that the new mechanism allows the concerned parties to request an additional scanning of the containers before the export process begins, with the aim of enhancing reassurance about the integrity of the procedures and avoiding any potential problems later. They stressed that this additional survey is a completely optional service subject to the desire of the interested party, and in no way constitutes a mandatory condition or an imposed prior procedure for completing export transactions.
The two unions confirmed that this understanding falls within the efforts aimed at finding practical and balanced solutions that take into account the requirements of customs and port work, contribute to simplifying procedures, accelerating the completion of transactions, and reducing administrative and logistical burdens and additional costs, in a way that maintains the flow of export movement and safeguards the interests of workers in the sector.
In conclusion, the two unions thanked the Lebanese Customs and Beirut Port administrations for their positive response, stressing continued coordination to improve the business environment and enhance the competitiveness of Lebanese ports and their credibility before the international trade community, in a way that achieves the public interest and balances the requirements of customs control and the necessities of facilitating trade.
