By Ibrahim Mohamed
A meeting was held between the Chairman of the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA), Tareq El-Houby, and Port Said Governor, Moheb Habashi Khalil, to discuss ways of coordination, co-operation and integration in the relevant areas between the NFSA and the executive bodies of the governorate.
In another context, el-Houby met with Mohamed Saada, President of the Chamber of Commerce in Port Said, in the presence of members of the Chamber of Commerce and a number of investors in the governorate, as he praised the role of chambers of commerce in sensitising traders and manufacturers to develop this important sector.
During the meeting, el-Houby reviewed the regulatory role through tightening the control of all food establishments in order to enhance the protection and health of the Egyptian consumer and increase the competitiveness of Egyptian products in local and international markets.
El-Houby listened to investors’ views and proposals and promised to study and implement them as soon as possible.
For his part, Saada confirmed his support for the authority’s activities and opportunities for joint co-operation in the field of rehabilitation and raising the awareness of the members of the Chamber of Commerce for the requirements of food safety.
On the sidelines of the meeting, NFSA signed a joint co-operation protocol to establish an office in the Chamber of Commerce in Port Said to facilitate the transactions of the members of the chamber.
El-Houby also met Director of East of Al Tafreah Port Ali Assem during his inspection visit to the East of Al Tafreah laboratory, which was held on 525 square meters.
The lab was supplied with the most modern equipment and human cadres that were qualified to manage and operate the lab after receiving the best technical training programmes in line with the directives of President Abdel Fatah El Sisi to tighten the control of food safety during import and export as well as the state’s tendencies towards reducing the time of customs release.
It covers the surrounding economic zone, serving messages from East Tafreah port and West Tafreah maritime port.
The average number of messages from imported food received by the port is 13 thousand per year for approximately 19 thousand containers of various types of food strategic goods.
The laboratory also aims to detect chemical food contaminants and a wide range of biological contaminants.
Saada, for his part, thanked el-Houby for NFSA’s outstanding efforts inside the port.
This visit is part of the efforts of NFSA to coordinate and co-operate with ministries and port bodies in order to ensure the speedy completion of the work and reduce the time of customs release in order to facilitate the movement of trade and support Egyptian food exports.
