سلامة الغذاء: 3610 رسالة غذائية مصدرة و1920رسالة واردة عبر الموانئ المصرية

The Media Center of the National Food Safety Authority issued its 34th weekly report for the year 2024, for the period from September 7 to 13, which included many different activities as follows:

Activities of the Authority’s various departments:
The General Administration of Factory Control carried out 40 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 centres amounted to 35 visits, and the Department issued 357 export permits for agricultural products to 338 exporting companies.

The number of exported food shipments, according to the report of the General Administration Information Center for both exports and imports at the Authority, amounted to 3,610 shipments, amounting to about 180,000 tons, for 1,465 exporting companies, varying between 616 types of vegetables, flour, and various food products.

Beans topped the list of Egyptian exported vegetables, with 15 thousand tons, followed by sweet potatoes with a total of 11 thousand tons, then onions with a total of 10 thousand tons. The total number of exported vegetable varieties reached 64 varieties, with about 40 thousand tons.

Mango topped the list of exported fruits during the past week with a total of 14 thousand tons, followed by pomegranate with a total of 7 thousand tons, then strawberries with a total of 6 thousand tons. The total number of exported fruit varieties reached 53 varieties with about 29 thousand tons.

Spain, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Libya were the largest recipients of Egyptian exports last week out of a total of 152 importing countries.
Alexandria Port ranked first in the number of food shipments exported from it, with a total of 550 shipments, followed by Safaga Port with 490 shipments, then Cairo Airport Port with a total of 450 shipments.

The number of incoming food shipments reached 1920 shipments, amounting to about 457 thousand tons, for 757 importing companies, varying between 206 types of wheat, raw sugar and various oils from 81 countries. Russia was the largest exporting country to Egypt, followed by Ukraine, Brazil and Bulgaria.

Alexandria Port came in first place in the number of food shipments received, with a total of 606 shipments, followed by Sokhna Port, which came in second place with 288 shipments, then Damietta Port with a total of 266 shipments.

The General Administration for Registration and Licensing of Special Foods registered 27 products and 6 companies, carried out 5 inspection visits, inspected 815 new products, and issued 13 free sale certificates.

The Strategic Commodities Administration carried out 79 inspection visits to wheat storage sites and 2 other inspection visits to rice mills, in various governorates of the Republic. In addition, 10 food facilities were registered for rice trading in the governorates of Aswan, Menoufia, Dakahlia and Damietta.

The total number of complaints received by the Authority amounted to 39 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. 26 complaints were closed and 13 complaints are being examined.
Complaints Department inspectors carried out campaigns on 858 food establishments to ensure the safety of food products displayed in the governorates of Ismailia, Sharkia, Assiut, Beheira, New Valley, Gharbia, Dakahlia, Giza, Menoufia, Beni Suef, Aswan, Minya, North Sinai, Port Said, Red Sea 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, 57 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.

770 public establishments with food activities were registered, and the Public Establishments Registration and Licensing Department conducted 523 inspections of public establishments, while 381 establishments met the requirements of the National Food Safety Authority during the past week.

The Storage Facilities Control Department carried out 32 control missions on food warehouses in the governorates of Qalyubia, Cairo, Sharqia, Beheira, the Red Sea, Alexandria, Dakahlia, Luxor, Qena, South Sinai, Ismailia, Sohag, Aswan, Menoufia, Fayoum, Assiut, Suez and Giza, and 2 warehouses met the requirements of the National Food Safety Authority.
Regarding school feeding stores, 3 school feeding stores (already existing) were inspected in Qena and Sohag governorates.
Regarding the management of milk suppliers, 16 inspection missions were carried out on milking parlors and milk collection centers in the governorates of Gharbia, Beheira, Ismailia, Sharqia, Gharbia and Fayoum.
As for the management of licensing and supervision of tourist facilities, 79 visits were made, including periodic supervision and inspection of licenses in the governorates of Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, the Red Sea, Port Said, Aswan and Luxor.

The Mobile Food Units Administration carried out 24 inspection missions on food units in the governorates of Cairo, Gharbia, Assiut, Qalyubia and Alexandria.
The Authority’s Grievance Committee examined 524 grievance requests received from various ports.

The General Administration of Slaughterhouses conducted 17 inspection visits to poultry slaughterhouses and intestine factories, in addition to 68 visits to follow up on the manufacture of natural animal casings in intestine factories. The administration issued 26 export permits for natural animal casings to European Union countries after taking samples and ensuring that they comply with the requirements.
The Slaughterhouses Department carried out a campaign on some manual slaughterhouses in some neighborhoods of Giza and Qalyubia governorates, in order to familiarize those in charge of them with food safety requirements.

Participation was also made in the receipt of the Mansoura Public Slaughterhouse and the Dakahlia Government Slaughterhouse in Mansoura 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 8 inspection missions in the governorates of Cairo, Qalyubia, Sharkia, Beheira, Beni Suef, Giza and Sohag.
The General Administration for Fish and Aquatic Products Control carried out 12 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, Head 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 241 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 12 tons of expired and unfit for human consumption herring fish, and 300 kg of black honey that did not conform to standard specifications.

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.
We also participated in extensive campaigns with the governorate, the Supply Directorate, the Supply Investigations, the Veterinary Medicine Directorate, and the Health Directorate. These campaigns resulted in the issuance of 80 reports, which varied between reports of lack of health requirements.

Seizure and withdrawal of samples of a quantity of food items suspected of being unfit for human consumption (meat, fish, baked goods), and all seized items were kept for 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 6 joint inspection campaigns with (the Supply Directorate, Veterinary Medicine, Health, the Governorate, and the City Council) on 35 food establishments within the scope of Kafr Saad Center and City.
These campaigns resulted in the destruction of 263 kg of various 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.

The Food Safety Branch in Fayoum Governorate carried out a number of inspection campaigns, some of which were jointly conducted with the Consumer Protection Agency and the Veterinary Medicine, Supply and Internal Trade Directorates. 29 food establishments were visited during these campaigns, and 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, 6 stations and centers for packaging medicinal and aromatic plants were registered and began to meet the necessary requirements for food safety. The campaigns also resulted in issuing 4 reports against food establishments for operating without a license, 1 report of slaughtering outside slaughterhouses, and 3 reports of seizing a quantity of meat unfit for human consumption.

The Food Safety Branch in Dakahlia Governorate carried out 14 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).
60 food establishments were visited in the centers and some villages within the governorate (Sandoub, 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 23 reports (lack of health certificates, commercial fraud, seizure, lack of licenses, lack of health requirements, failure to announce prices, slaughter outside slaughterhouses), and 6 tons were seized (table salt of unknown origin, flour, vegetable fat, biscuits).

The Food Safety Branch in Menoufia Governorate carried out 31 inspection campaigns on 123 food establishments in some cities, centers and villages of the governorate (Shibin El Kom, Berket El Sabaa, Tala, Qwesna, Ashmoun, Menouf, El Shohadaa, El Sadat, El Bagour). These campaigns resulted in the seizure of a quantity of various food products that had expired and were unfit for human consumption. All of these products were destroyed in the presence of a committee of inspectors from the National Food Safety Authority.

The Food Safety Authority branch in Sohag Governorate participated in a number of joint campaigns with (the General Diwan of the Governorate, the Veterinary Medicine Directorate, the Supply Directorate, the Supply Investigations, the Consumer Protection Agency, and the East District). These campaigns resulted in the destruction of a quantity of frozen meat, the confiscation of 110 kg of chicken unfit for human consumption, and the issuance of 7 violation reports.

The branch also carried out 3 inspection campaigns on 11 food establishments within the governorate’s cities and centers. These campaigns resulted in the destruction of a quantity of various food items of unknown origin and unfit for human consumption. Pledges were 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 22 inspection campaigns, where 105 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 products that are unfit for human consumption.

In addition, 24 food establishments that had previously been given a period to implement food safety requirements were re-inspected. The compliance of these establishments with the requirements that must be met in the food establishment was verified and 8 reports of lack of food safety requirements were issued to non-compliant establishments.

The Food Safety Branch in Beheira Governorate carried out 35 inspection campaigns on 226 food establishments in the governorate’s centers (Damanhour, Abu Homos, 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 4 inspection campaigns on 39 food establishments in the city of 10th of Ramadan and the city of Belbeis in Sharqia Governorate. These campaigns resulted in the seizure and destruction of a quantity of expired food products, 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 branch also carried out a joint campaign with the Supply and Veterinary Medicine Directorate, where 3 food establishments were visited, resulting in the issuance of 2 reports for operating an establishment without a license, and possession of expired and unknown-source food.

The Food Safety Authority branch in Aswan Governorate carried out 11 extensive inspection campaigns in coordination with the Supply Investigations Department, where 22 food establishments were visited. These campaigns resulted in issuing 3 destruction reports for a quantity of expired food items that were unfit for human consumption. Food establishment owners were also educated on improving food safety measures, and undertakings were taken to implement the necessary requirements and register with the National Food Safety Authority.
The Food Safety Branch in Assiut Governorate carried out 7 inspection campaigns on a number of food establishments, which resulted in the destruction of a quantity of expired food products. 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 2 joint inspection campaigns with the Consumer Protection Agency, the Supply Directorate and the City Council, where 9 food establishments were visited, resulting in the destruction of a quantity of food products unfit for human consumption and with a change in their natural properties. Pledges were also taken from establishments not registered with the Authority to register and implement food safety requirements.