Open Records Laws › Lebanon

Lebanon

Law No. 28/2017 - Right to Access Information Law

Law No. 28/2017 - Right to Access Information Law (قانون حق الوصول الى المعلومات)

RTI Rating: 72 (source)

Response Timeline

Initial Response
15 days
Extension
15 days
Residency Required
None

Initial 15-day deadline; agencies may extend for another 15 days if the request is complex or requires additional time to prepare. Law does not specify whether calendar or business days (presumed calendar days). Amended by Law 233 (2021) to remove requirements for requesters to disclose identity, capacity, or interest.

How to Submit a Request

Accepted Methods

  • {'notes': 'Requests must be submitted in writing to the department holding the information', 'method': 'written'}
  • {'notes': 'Some ministries allow electronic submission through designated Information Officers, though implementation varies by agency', 'method': 'online'}
  • {'notes': 'Submit to designated Information Officer at each public entity', 'method': 'in_person'}

Following the 2021 amendment, requesters are not required to disclose their identity, capacity, interest, or explain the reason for the request or how they plan to use the information. Implementation varies across agencies; not all have designated Information Officers or online submission systems.

Required Elements

  • Sufficient details to enable retrieval of information with little effort
  • Elected place of residence for delivery of response (address for notification)

Fees

Fee Type Amount Notes
Copies (per page) LBP6000.00

Officially 6,000 LBP per file for reproduction costs. Law states acquisition of copies occurs at requester's own expense, but expense shall not exceed cost of reproduction, photocopying, or cost stipulated by law. Electronic delivery via email is free. In practice, additional informal payments are customary to expedite service.

Exemptions

  • National Defense and Security
    National defense, security, or general security secrets; confidential foreign relations management
  • Economic and Financial Interests
    Information undermining state financial/economic interests or currency security (amended in 2021 to narrow scope)
  • Privacy and Health
    Private lives and mental/physical health information
  • Professional and Trade Secrets
    Professional or trade secrets protected by law
  • Investigations and Trials
    Investigation facts before public hearing; secret trial facts
  • Parliamentary Confidentiality
    Confidential parliamentary minutes
  • Cabinet Deliberations
    Council of Ministers deliberations marked confidential
  • Preparatory Documents
    Preparatory and unfinished administrative documents
  • State Shura Council Opinions
    Opinions from State Shura Council (administrative court)

All exemptions are mandatory with no harm testing requirement, making them broadly applicable. No public interest override provision exists - disclosure is prohibited even when public interest would outweigh protected interests. 2021 amendments narrowed economic harm exemption and clarified that confidentiality clauses in public contracts do not preclude access as long as Article 5 provisions are not violated. Strict reuse restrictions apply; commercial reuse prohibited except for compiled collections with innovation elements.

Appeal Process

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Lebanon's appeals system faces significant implementation challenges. The NACC was established by Law 175/2020 but did not become operational until 2022, and as of 2025 remains severely under-resourced (3 of 85 staff positions filled). The law allows appeals within 60 days of denial or non-response, and NACC decisions are binding but may be challenged before the State Council. In 2019, the State Council ruled it had jurisdiction over access to information disputes in the absence of a functional NACC. The 2021 amendments (Law 233) removed the requirement for legal representation, making court proceedings more accessible. However, judicial independence concerns and the NACC's capacity constraints significantly undermine enforcement effectiveness.

Sources & References