By Ibrahim Mohamed
National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) issued its 38-weekly report for the period 21-27 October, which included many different activities in which the Authority carried out a training programme on “Tasks of the Food Safety Authority at Sea Outlets” for 26 early graduates of the University of Alexandria College of Agriculture from October 21-30.
The training programme included publicising the role and functions of the National Food Safety Authority in controlling Egypt’s imports and exports of food products, as well as binding technical rules promulgated by the Authority, relevant legislation and Egyptian standards.
The programme included a theoretical and practical aspect through field visits to food import and export screening grounds, and state-of-the-art training in methods of examining and withdrawing samples of various food commodities and agricultural crops.
The Authority participated in the events of the training programme compatibility with food safety requirements at date filling stations in coordination with the Export Council of Agricultural Earners, the Chamber of Food Industries and the Centre for Food Industry Technology with support from the USDA-funded TAIB Food Control and Inspection Systems Support Project.
This came to develop and upgrade the capacities of the workers of the dates Packing Stations in Siwa Oasis and Matrouh governorate in order to qualify them to comply with the requirements of the National Food Safety Authority and thus facilitate their inclusion in the whitelist with a view to exporting their products and opening new markets for Egyptian dates exports.
On the export side, sweet potatoes still top the list of Egyptian exported vegetables by 10,000 tons, followed by beans with a total of 5,000 tons, and beans with a total of 3,000 tons.
Pomegranates also top the list of exported fruits last week with a total of 12,000 tons, followed by mango and strawberries with a total of 6,000 tons each.
Last week, Saudi Arabia represented the largest recipient of Egyptian exports and then Libya, Sudan and Morocco out of a total of 149 importing countries.
The seaport of Safaja continues to be the first in the number of food messages exported and then the port of Cairo Airport and the port of Alexandria.
Last week, Russia also represented the largest exporters to Egypt, followed by Ukraine, France and Brazil.
The Strategic Goods Department carried out an inspection of wheat storage sites in eastern governorates, Minya, Assiut and Sohag.
The Department also held a refresher course on the application of the electronic system of public shops in the governorate of Sohag in cooperation with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.
The Commission’s inspection campaigns on markets in various governorates as part of the efforts of the branches of the Authority to tighten the control of food facilities in implementation of the directives of Dr. Tariq Al-Hobi, head of the National Food Safety Authority, to ensure the safety of food products on offer and to preserve the health of consumers in various governorates
The Food Safety Branch conducted inspection campaigns in the governorates of Gharbiya, Monoviya, Qalibiya, Damietta and Dakahlia.
