The Media Center of the National Food Safety Authority issued its 28th weekly report for the year 2024, for the period from July 27 to August 2, which included many different activities as follows:
Activities of the Authority’s various departments:
The General Administration for Factory Control carried out 109 inspection missions on food factories in all governorates of the Republic during the past week.
The number of inspection, inspection and accreditation visits carried out by the Control Department on filling stations and centres amounted to 70 visits, and the Department issued 511 export permits for agricultural products for 430 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 4,100 shipments, amounting to about 200,000 tons, for 1,410 exporting companies, varying between 550 types of fresh vegetables and fruits and various food products.
Fresh onions topped the list of Egyptian exported vegetables, with 13 thousand tons, followed by beans of all kinds, with a total of 12 thousand tons, then frozen mixed vegetables, with a total of 10 thousand tons. The total number of exported vegetable varieties reached 72 varieties, with about 45 thousand tons.
Mango topped the list of exported fruits last week, with a total of 12 thousand tons, followed by citrus fruits and strawberries, with a total of 11 thousand tons each. The total number of exported fruit varieties reached 73 varieties, with about 37 thousand tons.
Sudan, Morocco, Libya and Saudi Arabia were the largest recipients of Egyptian exports last week out of a total of 145 importing countries.
Safaga Port ranked first in the number of food shipments exported from it, with a total of 570 shipments, followed by Cairo Airport Port with 530 shipments, then Alexandria Port with a total of 480 shipments.
The number of incoming food shipments reached 2040 shipments, amounting to about 560 thousand tons, for 790 importing companies, which varied between 190 types of wheat, raw sugar, various oils, and frozen fish from 90 countries. Russia was the largest exporting country to Egypt, followed by Romania, Brazil, America, and Bulgaria.
Alexandria Port came in first place in terms of the number of food shipments received, with a total of 645 shipments, followed by Cairo Airport Port, which came in second place with 460 shipments, then Sokhna Port with a total of 220 shipments.
The General Administration for Registration and Licensing of Special Foods registered 45 products, 19 companies and 1 factory, carried out 3 inspection visits, inspected 530 new products and issued 18 free sale certificates.
The Strategic Commodities Department carried out 2 inspection visits to rice mills in the Eastern and Western Governorates.
The total number of complaints received by the Authority amounted to 43 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. 36 complaints were closed and 7 complaints are being examined.
The Complaints Management Team launched campaigns on 365 food establishments to ensure the safety of food products displayed in the governorates of Gharbia, Hurghada, Cairo, Ismailia, Sharkia, Dakahlia, Aswan, Alexandria, Minya, Giza, Marsa Matrouh and New Valley, 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, 50 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.
493 public establishments with food activities were registered, and the Public Establishments Registration and Licensing Department conducted 348 inspections of public establishments, while 253 establishments met the requirements of the National Food Safety Authority during the past week.
The Storage Facilities Control Department carried out 21 control missions on food warehouses in the governorates of Giza, Qalyubia, Gharbia, Cairo, Damietta, Sharkia, South Sinai, Dakahlia, Alexandria, Minya and Port Said.
Regarding the management of milk suppliers, 16 inspection missions were carried out on milking parlors and milk collection centers in the governorates of Beheira, Fayoum, Alexandria, Gharbia and Dakahlia.
As for the management of licenses and supervision of tourist facilities, 60 visits were made, including periodic supervision and inspection of licenses in the governorates of Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Port Said, the Red Sea, Marsa Matrouh and South Sinai.
The Mobile Food Units Administration carried out 34 inspection missions on food units in the governorates of Cairo, Gharbia, Qalyubia, Marsa Matrouh, Qena, the Red Sea and Dakahlia.
The Authority’s Grievance Committee examined 417 grievance requests received from various ports.
The General Administration of Slaughterhouses conducted 12 inspection visits to poultry and meat slaughterhouses, in addition to 54 visits to follow up on the manufacture of natural animal packaging in intestine factories. The administration issued 16 export permits for natural animal packaging to European Union countries after taking samples and ensuring that they comply with the requirements.
The Slaughterhouses Department also launched a campaign on some manual slaughterhouses in some districts of Giza Governorate in order to familiarize those in charge of them with food safety requirements. Samples were taken from the slaughterhouses to determine their suitability in the poultry washing stages.
The Food Contact Materials Factory Control Department carried out 3 inspection missions in Cairo and Qalyubia governorates.
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 launched 18 extensive inspection campaigns on 200 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).
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, 20 food facilities were visited and directions were given to implement corrective measures for those facilities, and 14 prosecution decisions were implemented.
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 50 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 (meat, poultry, dairy). 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 launched 7 joint inspection campaigns with (the Supply Directorate, Veterinary Medicine, Health, Consumer Protection Agency, and the Environment Department at the General Diwan) on 40 food establishments in the governorate’s centers (Ezbet El Borg, Fareskour, Ras El Bar, Damietta, Kafr El Sheikh, and Zarqa).
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 Crispy sample was also taken for laboratory testing.
The Food Safety Branch in Beheira Governorate launched 50 inspection campaigns on 404 food establishments in the governorate’s centers (Rahmaniya, Damanhour, Abu Hummus, Kafr El-Dawar, Abu El-Matamir, Hosh Issa, Itay El-Baroud, Kom Hamada, El-Nubaria, El-Mahmoudia).
These campaigns resulted in the detection of 3,950 packages of various types of expired food items with altered physical properties, and the necessary measures were taken regarding these food items by Food Safety Authority inspectors.
The Food Safety Branch in Dakahlia Governorate carried out 10 inspection campaigns, some of which were joint with other regulatory authorities (City Council Presidency, Health Directorate, Veterinary Medicine, Supply, Supply Investigations, Environment), where 59 food establishments were visited in centers and some villages within the governorate (Mansoura, Mit Ghamr, Manzala, Sandoub). These campaigns resulted in the destruction of a quantity of spoiled food and others that showed a change in properties, and issuing 1 report for non-compliance with food safety requirements.
The Food Safety Branch in Menoufia Governorate launched 25 inspection campaigns on 104 food establishments in some cities, centers and villages of the governorate (Shibin El Kom, Sadat, Tala, Qwesna, Menouf, Ashmoun, El Shohadaa, El Bagour). These campaigns resulted in the seizure of a quantity of various expired food products, and all of these products were destroyed in the presence of a committee of inspectors from the National Food Safety Authority. Two reports were also issued for non-compliance with food safety requirements.
The Food Safety Authority branch in Sohag Governorate launched 3 inspection campaigns on 10 food establishments within the governorate’s cities and centers. These campaigns resulted in issuing 2 destruction reports for a quantity of expired food items. Different quantities of food products with changed natural properties and unfit for human consumption were also seized. 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 Fayoum Governorate visited 15 food establishments in the industrial zone of Kom Oshim, and educated those in charge of them about the role and responsibilities of the Authority and directed them to register with the Authority and obtain a food handling license. Four food establishments were registered based on these directives.
One ton of food products of unknown origin was also seized in one of the facilities, and 4 reports were issued against 4 facilities for operating without a license.
The Food Safety Branch in the 10th of Ramadan City carried out 3 joint inspection campaigns with the Supply and Veterinary Medicine Directorate, where 94 food establishments were visited in the 10th of Ramadan City and the city of Belbeis in Sharqia Governorate. These campaigns resulted in the seizure of 3 tons of frozen meat and meat cuts of unknown origin and expired. A printing and packaging machine was also seized to re-record production dates and use trademarks belonging to others in an unlicensed factory in the 10th of Ramadan City. The seized quantities were confiscated and the necessary reports were issued. It was also found that there was a deficiency in food safety requirements in a number of other food establishments. These establishments were warned and given a period to rectify their conditions and avoid the detected violations.
The Food Safety Branch in Qalyubia Governorate carried out 23 inspection campaigns on 97 food establishments within the scope of the centers (Benha, Toukh, Shubra El-Kheima, Qalyub, Kafr Shukr, Qanater El-Khayriyah, and Khanka), and the campaigns resulted in the destruction of quantities of expired food products that showed signs of spoilage.
The Food Safety Authority branch in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate launched 3 joint inspection campaigns with some other regulatory authorities (City Council, Supply Directorate, Supply Investigations), where 9 food establishments were visited. These campaigns resulted in the seizure of 150 packages of various expired food items, and the necessary reports were issued.
The Authority’s branch in Port Said Governorate conducted 4 joint inspection campaigns in coordination with (the Governorate, the Supply Directorate, the Agriculture Directorate, the Veterinary Medicine Directorate, the Health and Preventive Medicine Monitoring Office, and the Environment Department at the General Diwan), where 56 food establishments were visited in Port Said and Port Fouad. These campaigns resulted in the destruction of a quantity of various expired food items that were unfit for human consumption, issuing 1 report for possession of grated Roman cheese without data and of unknown origin and the presence of apparent mold and a change in natural properties, 5 reports for lack of health certificates, 4 reports for food commodities of unknown origin, and 11 reports for failure to announce prices.
The Food Safety Authority branch in Aswan Governorate launched 7 joint inspection campaigns with the Supply Investigations Department, where 17 food establishments in the governorate’s centers were visited. These campaigns resulted in the issuance of 2 destruction reports for a quantity of food items 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 Sharkia Governorate conducted 12 inspection campaigns, where 60 food establishments were visited within the scope of the centers (Zagazig, Dirb Negm, Abu Kabir, and other centers), which resulted in the destruction of a quantity of expired food products unfit for human consumption.
لمطالعة المزيد: موقع السفير وللتواصل تابعنا علي فيسبوك الدبلوماسي اليوم و يوتيوب الدبلوماسي اليوم.
