المركز الإعلامي للهيئة القومية لسلامة الغذاء يصدر تقريره الأسبوعي الـ18 (انفوجراف)

The media center of the National Food Safety Authority issued its 18th weekly report, for the period from May 27 to June 2, and it included many meetings and various activities as follows:

Dr. Tariq Al-Houbi, Chairman of the National Food Safety Authority, received Counselor Georgi Nedialkov, Head of the Commercial and Economic Office at the Bulgarian Embassy in Cairo, on Monday, May 29, at his office.

The meeting dealt with ways to enhance trade exchange between Egypt and Bulgaria during the coming period, especially with regard to the penetration of food exports between the two countries. Al-Houbi explained that Egypt’s exports of food commodities to Bulgaria in the first quarter of this year were represented in table salt, which ranked first, then Fresh and frozen beans. As for Bulgaria’s imports to Egypt, sunflower oils came in the first place. Dr. Tareq Al-Houbi expressed his hope for an increase in the inter-trade of food products between the two countries during the next stage.

For his part, Counselor Georgi Nedyalkov, Head of the Commercial and Economic Office of the Bulgarian Embassy in Cairo, praised the meeting he had with the head of the National Food Safety Authority, and reviewed the role of the Bulgarian Food Safety Organization, which was established in 2011, stressing his country’s desire to provide all aspects of cooperation with the National Authority for Food Safety. food in a way that enhances the increase in the rates of trade exchange between the two countries.

Dr. Tariq Al-Houbi, Head of the National Food Safety Authority, also met with Elizabeth Milo, the new agricultural attache at the US Embassy in Cairo, and Melinda Meador, Advisor for Agriculture Affairs at the US Embassy, ​​on Tuesday, May 30.

At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Tarek El Houby welcomed Elizabeth Melo – the new agricultural attache, wishing her success in the tasks entrusted to her, and that her efforts contribute to strengthening Egyptian-American economic relations, especially since the American market is one of the largest future markets for Egyptian exports.

Dr. Tariq Al-Houbi stressed the keenness of the National Food Safety Authority to coordinate and communicate continuously with the United States of America to facilitate procedures and overcome all obstacles to the continued flow of trade exchange between the two countries, especially food products.

For her part, Elizabeth Milo, the new agricultural attache at the US Embassy in Cairo, expressed her happiness at meeting the head of the National Food Safety Authority, and praised the authority’s vital role as a service supervisor in raising food safety levels and the competitiveness of the Egyptian food industries in foreign markets.

On Tuesday, May 30, Dr. Tariq Al Houbi met with Amanda Hodges, Director of Trade and Market Empowerment for the Middle East and North Africa, and Sami Hosseini, Agricultural Counselor at the Australian Embassy in Saudi Arabia. The meeting dealt with previous cooperation between the two countries in the field of food safety. The Australian side reviewed support for a research study on some imported frozen meat products to reach the most accurate and optimal results related to the shelf life required for storing these products.

The session on Wednesday 5/31/2023 of the LYNX Forum witnessed very constructive discussions between Dr. Tarek Al-Houbi, Chairman of the National Food Safety Authority, and major companies operating in the food industries, packaging, and logistics sectors in Egypt.

One of the most important topics covered during this interactive session was enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian food products to increase exports, as well as the plan to digitize and facilitate the authority’s procedures and reduce the time required for customs release.

As well as the importance of the role played by the authority in promoting food safety and increasing Egyptian exports in the regional and global markets, as well as the role of the authority in controlling food imports to ensure the safety and security of food.

This meeting comes within the framework of the authority’s vision of the importance of continuous dialogue between the authority and the private sector, which is considered the key to achieving the goals of the authority’s strategy (2023-2026).

Within the framework of the Authority’s keenness and endeavor to document areas of cooperation and enhance coordination between the Authority and other relevant parties, Dr. Tariq Al-Houbi – Chairman of the National Food Safety Authority – received Major General Dr. Ihab Saber – President of the General Authority for Veterinary Services – and Mr. Major General A.H / Al-Hussein Farhat – Executive Director of the Authority for the Protection and Development of Lakes and Fish Resources – on Thursday, corresponding to June 1, in order to find out the first steps of cooperation in the field of fish farming in order to maximize the benefit from the Egyptian capabilities in this field in promoting fish exports to European Union countries and helping to open new global markets. As well as discussing the most important challenges facing the marine fish sector in related issues, each in its own field.

Activities of the Authority’s various departments:

The General Administration of Factories Control carried out 69 control missions over food factories in all governorates of the Republic, and 10 food establishments were registered with the authority, while the number of factories that met the requirements of the National Authority for Food Safety during the past week reached 13 factories, and they are being listed in the white list.

The number of inspection, inspection and approval visits carried out by the Control Department on filling stations and centers reached 33, and 1 supplier was registered with the authority, and 2 filling stations met the requirements of the National Food Safety Authority and are being included in the white list.

The number of exported food parcels, according to the report of the General Administration for both exports and imports, amounted to 4,715, amounting to 230,000 tons. They varied between 425 varieties of citrus fruits, vegetables, and various food products from 130 countries, where the largest importing countries are Egypt, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia.

While the number of incoming food consignments reached 1155, amounting to 313,924 tons, 6 of which were rejected. The food consignments varied between 137 varieties of wheat, soybeans, various oils, dairy and dairy products from 77 countries, where the largest exporting countries to Egypt are Russia, Ukraine, Indonesia and India.

The General Administration of Laboratories Affairs prepared technical reports for 1,457 samples of imported food shipments, 230 samples of food intended for export, 128 samples of local food, in addition to 93 samples of special food products and 560 studies of grievance requests.

The Operations Room of the Authority and affiliated with the Strategic Commodities Department visited a number of governorates to follow up the workflow of the local wheat receiving committees and overcame any obstacles facing the receiving committees. The department also participated in campaigns to pass and follow up flour mills in cooperation with the General Administration of Supply Investigations, and carried out 3 announced inspection visits to rice mills. , and scored 5 rice paddies.

The Authority’s Training Department is still completing the training course on “Food Safety Requirements According to Food Factories Examination Lists and Control Mission Phases”, during the period from May 30 to June 1, for 20 other trainees from the inspectors of the General Administration of Factories in the regional branches of the Authority, and it aims to:

– The inspector’s commitment to the values ​​and ethics of the job.

Unifying the evaluation of food safety requirements according to the new inspection lists for factories to suit the nature and size of each industry.

Emphasis on food safety requirements contained in Resolution No. 11 of 2020.

The Department of Supervision of Storage Facilities implemented 13 control missions over warehouses in a number of governorates, and 1 store was met with the requirements of the National Food Safety Authority, bringing the total number of warehouses fulfilled by the authority to 219 stores.

In addition, 2 new sites for school feeding stores were inspected in the Menoufia Governorate, bringing the total number of sites that have been inspected since January of this year to 96 sites, 62 of which have been completed, suitable for the establishment of new school stores.

With regard to the management of dairy suppliers, 13 control missions were carried out over milking parlors in the governorates of Beheira, Menoufia, Gharbia and Fayoum, and the administration registered 2 milking parlors, and 1 milking parlor met the requirements of the National Food Safety Authority, bringing the total number of milking parlors that have been completed and listed on the white list to 38 milking facilities so far.

The total number of complaints received by the authority reached 61 complaints, which were submitted to the authority by the various complaints 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. 53 complaints were closed, and 8 complaints are being examined. .

The complaints management team launched campaigns on 120 establishments in various governorates to ensure the validity of the offered products.

The General Administration of Slaughterhouses conducted 9 inspection visits to poultry slaughterhouses, and issued 11 export permits for animal natural envelopes to European Union countries.

Last week, the Department of Control and Licensing of Tourist Establishments carried out 55 visits, which included periodic control and inspection of licenses in many governorates, and 1 restaurant was registered with the authority, and 1 hotel met the licensing requirements according to the check list, bringing the number of completed hotels to 28 hotels.

The Mobile Food Units Department carried out 16 inspection missions on food units in several governorates, 2 units were registered with the authority, and 2 food units met the requirements of the National Food Safety Authority and are being included in the white list.

The General Administration of Fish and Aquatic Products Control carried out 10 control visits, which varied between fishing boats/vessels, fish factories and suppliers, and factories from which samples were previously drawn are being followed up to take action with cases of non-compliance.

With regard to the activities of the Department of Control over Commercial Chains, 49 control missions have been implemented for branches of commercial chain establishments to ensure that these establishments meet food safety requirements in a number of governorates of the Republic, and 10 establishments have been identified in preparation for directing control missions during the coming period in Qalyubia Governorate. The number of establishments registered with the administration is 12 branches, bringing the number of chains registered to date to 1,296 branches for 45 commercial chains.

164 establishments were registered through the electronic system for public shops with food activity, in addition to the registration of 8 establishments under the name of public shops through direct application for registration at the National Food Safety Authority, and the Department of Registration and Licensing of Public Shops conducted 86 inspections of public shops, and 13 shops were met with licensing requirements. Food circulation, bringing the number of fulfilled stores to 57.

The director of the authority’s branch in Matrouh governorate attended the meeting of the general secretary of the governorate to discuss activating the public shops system and removing the obstacles facing its activation in the governorate.

Campaigns of the Inspection Authority on markets in various governorates:

And within the framework of the efforts of the authority’s branches to tighten and tighten control over food establishments, in implementation of the directives of Dr. Tariq Al-Houbi – Chairman of the National Food Safety Authority – to ensure the safety of the offered products and to preserve the health of consumers in various governorates,,

The Food Safety Branch in Gharbia Governorate visited 250 food establishments to ensure the implementation of food safety requirements in the governorate. The campaigns resulted in the seizure of 1 ton of mesh, 150 soft drink bottles, 500 packages of various expired food products, in addition to 1 ton of halva containing additional ingredients. They were not authorized, and all seizures were seized and legal measures were taken against them, and (18) decisions to destroy expired food products, estimated at a weight of (5 tons), were implemented, and food was examined in rehabilitation and reform centers.

The Food Safety Branch in Luxor Governorate launched joint campaigns with the Directorate of Supply, the Consumer Protection Agency, and the Supply Investigation, and these campaigns resulted in the seizure of expired food products (chipsi bags, cans, frozen chicken and liver and roomy cheese), and legal measures were taken against these violations.