Ibrahim Mohamed
The General Administration of Factories Control carried out 90 supervisory inspections of food factories nationwide, according to the latest report by the Information Centre of the National Food Safety Authority during the period June 8–21.
Examination, inspection, and accreditation visits by the Department of Control of Packing Stations and Centres reached 66 and issued 1,826 agricultural export permits.
The accreditation and follow-up of onion packing centres in Gharbia Governorate for the current export season has started in co-operation with the Egypt Rural Agribusiness Strengthening Project (ERAS) with the participation of the branch of the National Food Safety Authority in the governorate, where the branch inspectors were hired for 5 days during the period from June 9 to 13.
Potatoes topped the list of exports at 23,000 tonnes, followed by onions at 20,000 tonnes, beans at 10,000 tonnes, and 65 types of exported vegetables at 65,000 tonnes.
Citrus fruit exports were in the lead with 45,000 tonnes, followed by grapes at 30,000 tonnes and strawberries at 13,000 tonnes.
The Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, England, and Sudan were the biggest customers for Egyptian products out of 177 importers.
The General Administration for Registration and Licensing of Private Food registered 90 and examined 676 new products.
Complaints management carried out 75 inspection campaigns to ensure the safety of food in a number of governorates.
Control of Commercial Chains has conducted 18 commissariats to ensure that their branches meet the requirements of food safety.
The Warehouse Control Department implemented 20 monitoring missions in a number of governorates.
The General Department of Slaughterhouses conducted 11 inspection visits to poultry and meat slaughterhouses, as well as 49 visits to intestinal factories, in addition to issuing 14 permissions for exports to the EU.
The National Food Safety Authority (NFSA), as part of its role, has launched extensive inspection campaigns to ensure food safety.
This came in line with directives from NFSA chairman Dr Tareq El-Houby to tighten the control on food establishments in a number of governorates.
