The National Food Safety Authority’s media center issued its 46th weekly report for the year 2024, for the period from November 30 – December 6, which included many different activities as follows:
Activities of the Authority’s various departments:
The General Administration for Factory Control carried out 10 oversight missions in cooperation with the Industrial Development Authority.
The number of examination, inspection and approval visits carried out by the Department of Control of Packing Stations and Centers reached 56 visits, and the Department issued 1,599 export permits for agricultural crops to 956 exporting companies.
The number of food consignments exported, according to the report of the Authority’s General Administration Information Center for both Exports and Imports, reached 4,200 consignments, amounting to approximately 160,000 tons, to 1,445 exporting companies, which varied between 586 types of vegetables, fruits, flour, and various food products.
Sweet potatoes topped the list of Egyptian vegetables exported this week as well, with 8,000 tons, followed by onions, with a total of 6,000 tons, then beans of all kinds, with a total of 4,000 tons. The total number of exported types of vegetables reached 68, with a total of about 36,000 tons.
Citrus fruits also topped the list of exported fruits last week with a total of 16 thousand tons, followed by strawberries with 5 thousand tons, then dates with a total of 4 thousand tons. The total number of types of exported fruits reached 35 types, amounting to about 35 thousand tons.
Saudi Arabia, America, Sudan, and Libya represented the largest countries receiving Egyptian exports during the past week, out of a total of 170 importing countries.
Cairo Airport Port ranked first in the number of food consignments exported from it with a total of 985 consignments, followed by Safaga Port with 834 consignments, then Alexandria Port with a total of 430 consignments.
The number of food shipments received reached 1,480, amounting to approximately 290,000 tons, to 695 importing companies, ranging from 223 varieties of wheat, soybeans, lentils and various oils, from 83 countries. Russia represented the largest country exporting to Egypt, followed by America, Ukraine and Latvia.
The port of Alexandria came first in the number of food consignments received, with a total of 416 consignments, followed by the port of Damietta, which ranked second with 250 consignments, then the port of Cairo Airport, with a total of 235 consignments.
The General Administration for Special Food Registration and Licensing registered 40 producers and 25 companies and carried out 2 supervisory visits. The administration also examined 600 new products and issued 20 free sale certificates.
The Strategic Commodities Administration carried out 10 inspection visits to wheat storage sites, as well as 2 inspection visits to rice mill sites, and 2 rice trading facilities were registered in the various governorates of the Republic.
The total number of complaints received by the Authority reached 34 complaints from various complaints receiving agencies (the electronic portal for the unified government complaints system – the Council of Ministers), the Consumer Protection Agency, in addition to complaints submitted directly to the Authority. 25 complaints were closed and 9 complaints are being examined.
Complaints Department inspectors carried out campaigns on 530 food establishments to ensure the safety of food products offered in the governorates of Ismailia, Sharqia, Gharbia, Dakahlia, Marsa Matrouh, Beheira, Assiut, Menoufia, Kafr El-Sheikh, Sohag, New Valley, Aswan, Minya, Giza, Alexandria, Fayoum, Port Said, North Sinai, Hurghada, October, Shorouk and 10th of Ramadan, taking all necessary corrective measures in the event of any Notes related to food safety requirements.
Regarding the activities of the Commercial Chain Control Department, 37 oversight missions were carried out on branches of commercial chain establishments to ensure that these establishments meet food safety requirements in a number of governorates of the Republic.
915 public store establishments with food activity were registered, and the Public Store Registration and Licensing Department conducted 407 inspections of public stores, while 358 establishments met the requirements of the National Food Safety Authority during the past week.
The Storage Facilities Control Department carried out 20 oversight missions over food stores in the governorates of Qalyubia, Suez, Alexandria, Menoufia, Sharqia, Red Sea, Port Said, Gharbia, Damietta, Cairo and Giza.
7 stores were registered, bringing the total number of stores registered with the National Food Safety Authority to 888 stores.
Regarding school nutrition stores, 2 stores were inspected during the past week in the Eastern and Western governorates.
With regard to the management of licensing and oversight of tourist facilities, 23 visits were made, including periodic oversight and inspection of licenses in the governorates of Giza, the Red Sea, and Aswan.
The Mobile Food Units Department carried out 13 inspection missions on food units in Cairo and Gharbia governorates, while 2 food units met the requirements of the National Food Safety Authority and were issued a temporary certificate.
The Authority’s Grievances Committee examined 466 grievance requests received from various ports.
The General Administration of Slaughterhouses conducted 11 inspection visits to poultry and meat slaughterhouses and intestine factories, in addition to 53 follow-up visits to the manufacturing of natural animal encapsulations in intestine factories. One new intestine factory was registered, and the latest version of the approved list of natural encapsulation factories was published on the Authority’s website.
The administration issued 30 export permits for natural animal packaging to European Union countries after collecting samples and ensuring their compliance with requirements.
The Authority also participated in the interactive awareness dialogue held in cooperation between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Animal Health Research Institute, as part of the efforts made to disseminate knowledge about antimicrobial resistance under the slogan “National efforts to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance (ARM) within the framework of the One Health.
The Department of Control of Food Contact Materials Factories carried out 14 oversight missions in the governorates of Giza, Qalyubia, Sharkia, Cairo, Menoufia and Dakahlia, and the list of factories that meet the authority’s requirements was updated to reach 11 factories.
The activities of the initiative to launch the green label for plastic products were also attended in an event that brings together representatives of the public and private sectors with the aim of aligning with the strategic goals of Egypt 2030 to protect the environment from recyclable plastic waste and maximize its safe use.
The General Administration for Fish and Aquatic Products Control carried out 14 monitoring visits to fishing boats/vessels, fish factories and suppliers, export companies, and processing units in various governorates of the Republic.
The Authority’s inspection campaigns on markets in various governorates:
As part of the efforts of the Authority’s branches to tighten and tighten control over food establishments in implementation of the directives of Dr. Tariq Al-Hobi, Chairman of the National Food Safety Authority, to ensure the safety of the food products offered and to preserve the health of consumers in various governorates,
The Food Safety Branch in Gharbia Governorate implemented 22 extensive inspection campaigns on 170 food establishments to ensure the implementation of food safety requirements in the various cities and centers of the governorate (Tanta, Zefta, Qutour, Basyoun, Al-Santa, Kafr Al-Zayat, Al-Mahalla, Samanoud). These campaigns resulted in the arrest of… 3 tons of pickles and half a ton of black honey, not fit for human consumption.
Within the framework of the awareness and educational role of the National Food Safety Authority to raise the level of public awareness towards improving food safety measures and promoting sound healthy food practices, 30 food establishments were visited and guidance was given to the necessity of adhering to food safety requirements in those establishments, and applying corrective measures, and 15 decisions were implemented. To the Public Prosecution.
We also participated in large-scale campaigns with the governorate, the Supply Directorate, the Supply Investigation Department, the Veterinary Medicine Directorate, and the Health Directorate. These campaigns resulted in the seizure and withdrawal of samples of a quantity of foodstuffs suspected of being fit for human consumption, estimated at half a ton, and all seized items were seized to take legal action.
Food was also inspected and examined by the General Administration of Security, the Administration of the Security Forces, and the rehabilitation and reform centers in the governorate, and the supply of meat and poultry to the hospitals of the Gharbia Governorate was also supervised.
The Food Safety Branch in Damietta Governorate carried out 5 expanded inspection campaigns in cooperation with (the Deputy Head of the Local Unit of the Center and City, the Directorate of Supply, Veterinary Medicine, Health, and the Governorate) on 38 food facilities within the scope of the center and city of Kafr Saad. These campaigns resulted in the destruction of a quantity of food supplies. The variety had expired and had changed natural properties, and the culling process took place in the presence of representatives of the Food Safety Authority and members of the formed committee.
The authority’s branch in Fayoum Governorate implemented a number of inspection campaigns, where 20 food facilities were visited, and those in charge of these facilities were made aware of the authority’s role and competencies, and directed them to register with the authority to meet food safety requirements. These campaigns resulted in the registration of 2 medicinal and aromatic plant packing centers, and the destruction of a quantity Of expired meat.
The Food Safety Branch in Dakahlia Governorate carried out 18 inspection campaigns, some of which were joint with other regulatory authorities (City Council Presidency, Health Directorate, Veterinary Medicine, Supply, Supply Investigations, Consumer Protection Agency), where 98 food facilities were visited in centers and some villages within the governorate ( Mansoura, Mit Ghamr, Demna, Beni Obaid, Dekernes), and these campaigns resulted in the destruction of a quantity of spoiled foodstuffs with changed natural properties, And the reservation of 1 ton of food materials that are not suitable for human consumption.
The branch of the Food Safety Authority in Sohag Governorate implemented 4 joint inspection campaigns with the General Administration of Supply, the Supply and Health Investigations, and the Consumer Protection Agency. A number of food establishments were visited in the centers of (Saqalta, Maragha, Sharq District, and West District). These campaigns resulted in the execution of… 376 packages of various expired food products of unknown origin and unfit for human consumption, and 200 kg of expired food materials were seized.
The branch also carried out 7 inspection campaigns on 27 food establishments within the villages and centers of (Tahta, Akhmim, Al-Balina, and Maragha), and a quantity of expired foodstuffs that were unfit for human consumption were destroyed. Food establishments not registered with the authority were also alerted to the need to register and complete Licensing procedures and application of food safety requirements.
The 10th of Ramadan Branch carried out 4 inspection campaigns on 51 food establishments in the 10th of Ramadan City, the city of Belbeis, and the city of Abu Hammad in Sharkia Governorate. These campaigns resulted in a deficiency in food safety requirements in those establishments, and they were alerted and given a period to rectify their conditions and avoid violations.
The Food Safety Authority branch in Aswan Governorate carried out 8 inspection campaigns, passing through 14 food establishments. These campaigns resulted in the destruction of a quantity of expired food items that were unfit for human consumption.
The owners of food establishments were also made aware of improving food safety measures, and pledges were taken to implement the necessary requirements and register with the National Food Safety Authority.
The Food Safety Branch in Menoufia Governorate carried out 6 inspection campaigns on 14 food facilities in some cities, centers and villages of the governorate (Shebin El-Kom, Quesna, Al-Shuhadaa, Tala, and Sadat). These campaigns resulted in the seizure of a quantity of various food products that had expired and were unfit for human consumption. All of these products were destroyed in the presence of a committee of inspectors from the National Food Safety Authority.
