Egypt denies US restrictions on Egyptian food products

Egyptian Trade and Industry Minister Tarek Qabil dismissed as groundless reports that the US Food and Drug Administration has banned importing Egyptian food products.

In a press release, the minister stressed that he is following up problems facing Egyptian exporters via Egyptian commercial offices deployed worldwide.

According to the latest report released by Egyptian commercial office in Washington, the US FDA did not impose any ban on Egyptian food imports.

Before banning imports from any country, FDA takes several measures, including sending warnings to the importer and seizing the shipments as a precautionary measure to protect the safety of American citizens.

Then, the FDA puts the violating companies on a Red List and they are not removed till they send five consecutive shipments free from the materials that caused its block from the first place.

Only ten warnings out of 250 were issued by FDA to Egyptian companies during the period from 2011 to 2016, he added. One warning was issued in 2016 by FDA to the Egyptian manufacturer of Strawberry and Mango jello for containing unauthorized colors.

He also pointed out that the ban is issued against the products of the violating company only and not against all products coming from that country.

Meanwhile, the minister said the Saudi Food and Drug Authority released an official statement that Egyptian strawberries are free from any virus, saying this testifies to the high-quality of Egyptian products.

Source: MEMA