Egypt’s Crop Exports Meet European Standard- Report

The system in Egypt to control microbiological hazards in food of non-animal origin for export to the European Union is in a phase of transition and reform, as indicated by a report.

A review led by the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) surveyed authority control frameworks underway and preparing of food of non-animal origin (FNAO) with fresh or frozen soft fruits and herbs and spices.

These controls confirmed that strawberries, herbs and flavors are created under conditions which meet the EU's general hygiene provisions  for primary production and processing.

The review, from late January to early February this year, included trading firms for strawberries, herbs and flavors, one specialist co-op for purification of herbs and flavors and four homesteads creating such items.

Egyptian information office shows exports of crisp and dried herbs and flavors to the EU was around 12,900 tons in 2018 contrasted with 10,266 tons and 11,660 in the two earlier years.

Exports of strawberries was in excess of 103,300 tons for fresh and 57,500 for frozen ones out of 2018. The earlier year had seen 65,280 tons of fresh and 32,000 tons of frozen strawberries exported to the EU.