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This decree addresses the implementation of Law No. 28 issued on 10/2/2017 on the right to access information wherever it appears, whereby the Lebanese president has issued this decree to emphasize on the importance of the public’s right to access all kinds of information and understand the implementation of Law No. 28.

The decree stipulates that every request of a repetitive or systematic nature that is not justified, and every request aimed at viewing information unspecified or unclear or for unjustified long periods of time, and would impede the work of public administration and facility, shall be considered as an abuse of the right to access information. 

Any published information, whether or not digitally, should be done in a way that the required document and content can be searched, downloaded, and copied.

In implementation of the provisions of the last paragraph of Article 7 of Law No. 28, the entire process for requesting information shall be automatically approved provided that the objective and subject matter behind such a request is clearly stated. Additionally, numerous requests can be considered as one provided that the information which has been requested is done either together or seperately within a short time frame so that the cost remains less than five million Lebanese pounds.

In implementation of the provisions of Paragraph A of Article 14 of the Law, a request for information shall be submitted by the concerned person either personally or through an agent on his/her behalf, provided that a document is attached to it indicating the identity of the applicant. The request can be submitted by electronic means according to a special mechanism determined by each department according to its capabilities, and then a special section for information requests is allocated either on the departments' websites or via e-mail in a way that enables the administration to verify the identity of the applicant.

In implementation of the provisions of Paragraph D of Article 14 of the Law, the employee in charge must request the necessary clarifications from the person concerned in writing and within the response period set forth in Article / 16 / of the Law, provided that a time limit is specified for him/her to enforce this. The response period stops valid until the assigned employee informs the concerned person's response.

Here are some of the necessary requirements issued by this Decree:

• Each department should assign at least one information employee.
• The decision to assign an information officer must include his/her job category, his/her location, phone number, and email address for communication purposes.
• Each department, upon assigning the information officer, shall publish the assignment decision in the official gazette and on the department’s website, if any, and circulate his/her name and capacity within its central and regional departments.
• The assigned employee shall have the right to access all the information and documents in his/her department.