سلامة الغذاء: 3620 رسالة غذائية مصدرة بنحو 166 ألف طن خلال أسبوع

The Media Center of the National Food Safety Authority issued its 35th weekly report for the year 2024, for the period from September 14 to 20, which included many different activities as follows:

Activities of the Authority’s various departments:
The General Administration for Factory Control carried out 32 inspection missions in cooperation with the Industrial Development Authority. The number of inspection, inspection and accreditation visits carried out by the Control Department on filling stations and centers amounted to 22 visits. The department issued 373 export permits for agricultural products for 334 exporting companies.

According to the report of the General Administration Information Center for both exports and imports at the Authority, the number of exported food shipments reached 3,620 shipments, amounting to about 166 thousand tons, for 1,425 exporting companies, varying between 584 types of vegetables, flour, and various food products.

Beans of all kinds and sweet potatoes topped the list of Egyptian exported vegetables, with 10 thousand tons each, followed by onions with a total of 8 thousand tons. The total number of exported vegetable varieties reached 57 varieties, with about 36 thousand tons.

Mango topped the list of exported fruits during the past week as well, with a total of 12 thousand tons, followed by pomegranate with a total of 8 thousand tons, then strawberries with a total of 5 thousand tons. The total number of exported fruit varieties reached 47 varieties, with about 30 thousand tons.

Sudan, Saudi Arabia, England and Libya were the largest recipients of Egyptian exports during the past week out of a total of 160 importing countries.
Safaga Port ranked first in the number of food shipments exported from it, with a total of 710 shipments, followed by Alexandria Port with 533 shipments, then Cairo Airport Port with a total of 430 shipments.

The number of incoming food shipments reached 1,795 shipments, amounting to about 444 thousand tons, for 775 importing companies, varying between 165 types of wheat, soybeans and various oils from 90 countries. Russia was the largest exporting country to Egypt, followed by Ukraine, America and Brazil.

Alexandria Port came in first place in the number of food shipments received, with a total of 500 shipments, followed by Cairo Airport Port, which came in second place with 273 shipments, then Sokhna Port with a total of 262 shipments.

The General Administration for Registration and Licensing of Special Foods registered 61 products and 8 companies, carried out 3 inspection visits, inspected 781 new products, and issued 9 free sale certificates.
The Strategic Commodities Department carried out 50 inspection visits to wheat storage sites in various governorates of the Republic, and 2 food facilities were registered for rice trading.
The total number of complaints received by the Authority amounted to 58 complaints from various complaint receiving bodies (the electronic portal of the unified government complaints system – the Council of Ministers), the Consumer Protection Agency, in addition to complaints submitted directly to the Authority. 27 complaints were closed and 31 complaints are being examined.
Complaints Department inspectors carried out campaigns on 572 food establishments to ensure the safety of food products displayed in the governorates of Ismailia, Sharkia, Assiut, New Valley, Gharbia, Dakahlia, Giza, Menoufia, Beni Suef, Aswan, Matrouh, North Sinai and Tenth of Ramadan, while taking all necessary corrective measures in the event of any observations related to food safety requirements.
With regard to the activities of the Commercial Chains Control Department, 42 control missions were carried out on branches of commercial chains to ensure that these facilities meet food safety requirements in a number of governorates of the Republic.
The Storage Facilities Control Department carried out 17 inspection missions on food warehouses in the governorates of Cairo, Sharkia, Alexandria, Dakahlia, South Sinai, Menoufia, Assiut and Giza, and 4 warehouses met the requirements of the National Food Safety Authority.
As for school feeding stores, 2 school feeding stores (already existing) were inspected in Giza and Dakahlia governorates, and 2 stores met the accreditation requirements of the National Food Safety Authority, bringing the number of stores that met the requirements to 35.
Regarding the management of milk suppliers, 15 inspection missions were carried out on milking parlors and milk collection centers in the governorates of Gharbia, Beheira, Ismailia, Sharkia and Fayoum.
As for the management of licensing and supervision of tourist facilities, 69 visits were made, including periodic supervision and inspection of licenses in the governorates of Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, the Red Sea, Port Said, Aswan, Luxor, Damietta and Sohag.
The Mobile Food Units Administration carried out 19 inspection missions on food units in the governorates of Cairo, Gharbia, Alexandria, Qena, Matrouh and Giza.
The Authority’s Grievance Committee examined 375 grievance requests received from various ports.
The General Administration of Slaughterhouses conducted 7 inspection visits to poultry and meat slaughterhouses and intestine factories, in addition to 47 visits to follow up on the manufacture of natural animal casings in intestine factories. Two meat slaughterhouses are being included in the accreditation list of the National Food Safety Authority.
The administration issued 15 export permits for natural animal packaging to European Union countries after taking samples and ensuring that they comply with the requirements.
Participation was also made in the receipt of the Shoni slaughterhouse in Gharbia Governorate, and the West Shubra El-Kheima district slaughterhouse in Qalyubia Governorate, which was developed in accordance with the requirements of the National Food Safety Authority, as part of the committee formed by the Ministry of Local Development and the General Authority for Veterinary Services.
The Food Contact Materials Factory Control Department carried out 5 inspection missions in the governorates of Cairo, Qalyubia, Sharkia and Giza.
The General Administration for Fish and Aquatic Products Control carried out 11 inspection visits to fishing boats/vessels, fish factories and suppliers, export companies and processing units in various governorates of the Republic.
The Authority’s inspection campaigns on markets in various governorates:
Within the framework of the Authority’s branches’ efforts to tighten and tighten control over food establishments, in implementation of the directives of Dr. Tarek El-Hobi, Chairman of the National Food Safety Authority, to ensure the safety of food products on display and to preserve the health of consumers in various governorates,
The Food Safety Branch in Gharbia Governorate carried out 30 extensive inspection campaigns on 230 food establishments to ensure the implementation of food safety requirements in various cities and centers of the governorate (Tanta, Zifta, Qutour, Basion, Santa, Kafr El-Zayat, El-Mahalla, Samanoud). These campaigns resulted in the seizure of 2 tons of Romano cheese and luncheon meat with a change in its natural properties and signs of spoilage, and 400 kg of expired sweets.
Within the framework of the awareness and educational role of the National Food Safety Authority to raise public awareness towards improving food safety measures and promoting sound healthy food practices, a number of food establishments were visited and guidance was given towards the necessity of adhering to food safety requirements in those establishments and implementing corrective measures.
Large-scale campaigns were also participated in with the governorate, the Supply Directorate, Supply Investigations, the Veterinary Medicine Directorate, and the Health Directorate. These campaigns resulted in the issuance of 100 reports, ranging from reports of lack of health requirements, to the seizure and withdrawal of samples of a quantity of food items suspected of being unfit for human consumption, estimated at 5 tons (meat, fish, poultry). All the seized items were kept in custody to take legal action.
Food was also inspected and examined at rehabilitation and reform centers in the governorate.
The Food Safety Branch in Damietta Governorate carried out 4 joint inspection campaigns with (the Deputy Head of the Local Unit for the Center and City, the Supply Directorate, Veterinary Medicine, Health, and the Governorate) on 35 food establishments within the scope of Kafr Saad Center and City.
These campaigns resulted in the destruction of a variety of expired and unhealthy food items. The destruction process was carried out in the presence of representatives of the Food Safety Authority and members of the formed committee.
A quantity of meat products with altered natural properties and minced meat of unknown origin were also seized, in addition to meat slaughtered outside slaughterhouses, by the veterinary medicine department in the presence of a member of the National Food Safety Authority and members of the formed committee.
The Food Safety Branch in Fayoum Governorate carried out a number of inspection campaigns, some of which were joint with the Consumer Protection Agency and the Veterinary Medicine, Supply and Internal Trade Directorates. 25 food establishments were visited, and during these campaigns, those in charge of them were educated about the role and responsibilities of the Authority and directed to register with the Authority and meet food safety requirements. Based on this directive, 4 stations and centers for filling medicinal and aromatic plants were registered and began to meet the necessary requirements for food safety. The campaigns also resulted in issuing 3 reports against food establishments for operating without a license, and issuing 2 reports for slaughtering outside slaughterhouses.
The Food Safety Branch in Dakahlia Governorate carried out 17 inspection campaigns, some of which were joint with other regulatory authorities (the City Council Presidency, the Health Directorate, Veterinary Medicine, Supply, Supply Investigations, and the Consumer Protection Agency).
89 food facilities were visited in the centers and some villages within the governorate (Dekernes, Mit Ghamr, Beni Obeid, Mansoura), and these campaigns resulted in the destruction of a quantity of spoiled food and others that appeared to have changed properties, and the issuance of 48 reports (lack of health certificates, seizure, lack of health requirements, failure to announce prices), and 2 tons were seized (dairy products, meat products, oils unfit for consumption) by the Consumer Protection Agency, Supply and Health in the presence of a member of the National Food Safety Authority and members of the formed committee.
The Food Safety Authority branch in Sohag Governorate carried out a joint campaign with the General Administration of Supply on a shop that was filling cooking oils in unclean containers without taking into account the requirements for proper filling. This campaign resulted in the confiscation of half a ton of oils and quantities of empty containers and lids. A report was prepared and presented to the Public Prosecution.
The branch also participated in a number of joint campaigns with (the General Diwan of the Governorate, the Veterinary Medicine Directorate, the Supply Directorate, and the East District). These campaigns resulted in the destruction of a quantity of expired meat and other food items with changed natural properties, and 13 reports were issued.
Branch 2 also carried out an inspection campaign on 6 food establishments within the governorate’s cities and centers. These campaigns resulted in the confiscation of expired (meat, poultry, and cheese products) in addition to a quantity of various food items of unknown origin and unfit for human consumption. A report was prepared and presented to the Public Prosecution. Pledges were also taken from food establishments not registered with the Authority to register, complete licensing procedures, and implement food safety requirements.
The Food Safety Branch in Sharkia Governorate conducted 18 inspection campaigns, where 74 food establishments were visited within the scope of the centers (Zagazig, Dirb Negm, Faqus, Abu Hammad, Belbeis, Hihya and other centers), which resulted in the destruction of a quantity of expired food items that were unfit for human consumption.
The branch also carried out a joint campaign with the Supply Directorate, where 5 food establishments were visited. This campaign resulted in issuing a report for operating an establishment without a license and 2 reports for not having health certificates.
33 food establishments that had previously been given a period to implement food safety requirements were also re-inspected. The compliance of these establishments with the requirements that must be met in the food establishment was verified and 3 reports of lack of food safety requirements were issued to non-compliant establishments.
The Food Safety Branch in Beheira Governorate carried out 31 inspection campaigns on 179 food establishments in the governorate’s centers (Damanhour, Abu Hummus, Kafr El-Dawar, Abu El-Matamir, Hosh Issa, Itay El-Baroud, and other centers). These campaigns resulted in the detection of a quantity of food packages of various types that had expired and had changed their natural properties. The necessary measures were taken regarding these food items by the Food Safety Authority’s inspectors.
The 10th of Ramadan branch carried out 3 inspection campaigns on 43 food establishments in the city of 10th of Ramadan in Sharqia Governorate. These campaigns resulted in the seizure and destruction of a quantity of expired food products (cake, chocolate, types of jam, spices, tamarind concentrates and Qamar al-Din), and the existence of a deficiency in food safety requirements in these establishments. They were warned and given a period of time to rectify their conditions and avoid violations.
The Food Safety Authority branch in Asun Governorate carried out 7 extensive inspection campaigns in coordination with the Supply Investigations, where 11 food establishments were visited. These campaigns resulted in issuing 1 destruction report for a quantity of expired food items that are unfit for human consumption (various baked goods and other food items), as well as
Food establishment owners were made aware of improving food safety measures, and pledged to implement the necessary requirements and register with the National Food Safety Authority.
The Food Safety Authority branch in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate carried out 6 joint inspection campaigns with some other regulatory authorities (City Council, Supply, Consumer Protection Agency, Veterinary Medicine, Health, Environment), where 67 food establishments were visited, and these campaigns resulted in the seizure of approximately 3 tons of various expired and unknown-source food items (frozen fish, minced meat, mozzarella cheese, imported frozen meat, flour, liver, tea).
The Food Safety Branch in Assiut Governorate carried out inspection campaigns on a number of food establishments, which resulted in the destruction of a quantity of expired food products (cut meat and poultry). Pledges were also taken from establishments not registered with the Authority to register and implement food safety requirements.
The Food Safety Branch in Minya Governorate carried out 6 inspection campaigns, where 20 food establishments were visited, which resulted in the destruction of a quantity of food products unfit for human consumption and with a change in their natural properties (freekeh, rice). Pledges were also taken from establishments not registered with the Authority to register and implement food safety requirements.