BEIRUT, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Lebanon has slapped a new tariff on honey that
effectively doubles the price of the 400-500 tonnes consumed annually in the
market, importers said on Monday.

The Higher Council of Customs at the end of last week imposed a minimum
tariff of $5 per kilogram on imported honey and raised the tariff from 34 to
35 percent. Tariff was a flat 34 percent before the new decree.

``It is ridiculous. Honey is not like bananas or apples of which there is
ample domestic production. They are effectively depriving people of eating
honey,'' said a large supermarket owner.

Imported honey accounts for 95 percent of the market, he said.

Last year Lebanon raised customs two percent across the board and sharply
raised tariffs on agricultural goods, a move which free traders said
contradicted official policy to join regional and international trade pacts.