Japan Allows Importing Egyptian Citrus after 25-Year Ban

The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries decided on Monday to lift a 25-year-old ban imposed on Egyptian citrus in the Japanese markets.

Egyptian diplomats in Tokyo, over the past period, have raised the issue of the ban with Japanese officials and arranged meetings of experts from the two countries at the Japanese ministry with the participation of Dr. Ahmed El Attar, the head of the Egyptian agricultural quarantine to discuss the issue, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian Embassy.

The statement said a delegation from the Japanese ministry was sent to Egypt in December to test the quality of Egyptian citrus crops.

The decision came as part of development in relations between the two countries following President Abdel Fattah El Sisi's visit to Japan last year.