Books – Ahmed Gomaa:

The media center of the National Food Safety Authority issued its 7th weekly report for the year 2024, for the period from February 10 to 16, which included many different activities, most notably the Authority’s participation in the “Food Safety” program in Tunisia, organized in cooperation with the Dutch University Wageningen University & research; It aimed to discuss many issues related to food safety as well as enhancing cooperation between Arab countries through activating and implementing international agreements.

According to today’s statement, within the framework of the training program, field visits were conducted to some establishments that have obtained international accreditations for innovation in the food industry and that have applied the most important and latest international standards for food safety.

Regarding the activities of the Authority’s various departments, the General Administration for Factory Control carried out 94 oversight missions on food factories in all governorates of the Republic during the second week of February. 10 food establishments were registered with the National Food Safety Authority and 2 factories were included on the white list.

The number of examination, inspection and approval visits carried out by the Department of Control of Packing Stations and Centers reached 63 visits. 4 facilities were registered with the Authority and 2 packing stations are being listed on the white list. The Department issued 2,972 export permits for agricultural crops to 1,609 exporting companies.

The Authority also participated in the Export Council meeting to discuss the project to run the high-speed line for perishable agricultural crops between Egypt and Italy.

The number of food consignments exported, according to the report of the General Administration of both Exports and Imports at the Authority, amounted to 5,820 consignments, amounting to approximately 240,000 tons, to 1,625 exporting companies, which varied between 440 types of fresh vegetables and fruits, and various food products.

Last week, potatoes also topped the list of Egyptian exported vegetables with 36 thousand tons, followed by various frozen vegetables with a total of 10 thousand tons, then beans with a total of 7 thousand tons, and the total number of exported vegetable varieties reached 68 types with about 77 thousand tons.

Citrus fruits topped the list of exported fruits last week, with a total of 75,000 tons, followed by strawberries, with a total of 10,000 tons, then various fruits with a total of 3,000 tons. The total number of types of exported fruits reached 35 types, amounting to about 90,000 tons.

Saudi Arabia, Libya, Italy, and Sudan represented the largest countries receiving Egyptian exports during the past week, out of a total of 152 importing countries.

Last week, Cairo Airport Port ranked first in the number of food consignments exported from it, with a total of 1,025 consignments, followed by Safaga Port with 931 consignments, then Alexandria Port with a total of 840 consignments.

The number of food consignments received reached 1,715 consignments, amounting to about 288 thousand tons, to 640 importing companies, which varied between 150 varieties of wheat, beans, and various oils from 90 countries. Russia represented the largest country exporting to Egypt, followed by Australia, Ukraine, America, and Malaysia.

Last week, Alexandria Port ranked first in the number of food consignments received, with a total of 520 consignments, followed by Cairo Airport Port, which ranked second with 340 consignments, then Damietta Port, with a total of 242 consignments.

The General Administration for Special Food Registration and Licensing registered 46 products, 7 companies, and 1 factory, and carried out 9 supervisory visits. The administration also examined 464 new products and issued 16 free sale certificates.

The Strategic Commodities Department held a training course for managers of wheat storage sites affiliated with the Holding Company for Food Industries at the Egyptian Center for Milling Technology entitled “Basic requirements for grain storage facilities (silos – warehouses – warehouses – assembly centers)” to comply with the requirements of the National Food Safety Authority for inclusion in the approved list of 113 trainees. With the participation of the Head of Mills Technical Sectors at the Holding Company for Food Industries.

Also, 1 rice mill was registered in Marsa Matrouh Governorate.

The total number of complaints received to the Authority reached 30 complaints from the various complaints receiving agencies (the electronic portal for the unified government complaints system – the Council of Ministers), the Consumer Protection Agency, in addition to complaints submitted directly to the Authority. 17 complaints were closed and 13 complaints are being examined.

The complaints management team launched campaigns on 550 food establishments to ensure the safety of food products offered in the governorates of Cairo, Sharqia, Gharbia, Menoufia, Aswan, Sohag, North Sinai, Giza, and the cities of October and 10th of Ramadan, while taking all necessary corrective measures in the event of any Food safety notes.

Regarding the activities of the Commercial Chains Control Department, 23 oversight missions were carried out on branches of commercial chain establishments to ensure that these establishments meet food safety requirements in a number of governorates of the Republic. The number of establishments registered with the Department reached 2 branches, bringing the number of registered chains to date to 1,637. Branch of 47 commercial chains.

In coordination with the Departments of Control of Tourist Establishments and Public Stores, 3 joint campaigns were launched on 24 food establishments in commercial centers to ensure that they meet food safety requirements.

581 public store establishments with food activity were registered, and the Public Store Registration and Licensing Department conducted 430 inspections of public stores, while 236 establishments met the requirements of the National Food Safety Authority during the past week.

The Storage Facilities Control Department carried out 27 oversight missions over private sector stores in the governorates of Qalyubia, Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Gharbia, Sharqia, Red Sea, Menoufia, Dakahlia, Assiut, Damietta, Beni Suef, Kafr El-Sheikh and Minya, and 7 stores were registered with the authority. National Food Safety Authority during the past week, bringing the total number of registered storage facilities to 834 warehouses.

Regarding the management of dairy suppliers, 11 oversight missions were carried out over milk shops and milk collection centers in the governorates of Beheira, Ismailia, Fayoum, Gharbia, Dakahlia, Sharkia, Damietta and Cairo.

With regard to the management of supervision and licensing of tourist establishments, 69 visits were made, including periodic monitoring and licensing inspections in the governorates of Aswan, Alexandria, the Red Sea, Giza, Cairo and Luxor, and 6 restaurants were registered with the National Food Safety Authority.

The Mobile Food Units Department carried out 18 inspection missions on food units in the governorates of Cairo, Gharbia, Dakahlia, Assiut, Giza and Qalyubia, and 6 food units were registered with the National Food Safety Authority.

The Authority’s Grievances Committee examined 318 grievance requests received from various ports.

The General Administration for Fish and Aquatic Products Control carried out 19 monitoring visits to fishing boats/vessels, fish factories and suppliers, export companies, and processing units in various governorates of the Republic.

The General Administration of Slaughterhouses conducted 8 inspection visits to poultry and meat slaughterhouses and intestine factories, in addition to 62 follow-up visits to the manufacturing of natural animal packaging in intestine factories. The administration issued 19 export permits for natural animal packaging to European Union countries after collecting samples and ensuring their compliance with requirements.

The Food Contact Materials Factories Control Department carried out 3 oversight missions on food contact materials factories in the Sharkia, Gharbia, and Giza governorates, and 5 factories were registered with the authority during the past week.

The Authority’s inspection campaigns on markets in various governorates:

As part 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-Hobi, Chairman of the National Food Safety Authority, to ensure the safety of the food products offered and to preserve the health of consumers in various governorates,

The Food Safety Branch in Gharbia Governorate launched 35 extensive inspection campaigns on 290 food establishments to ensure the implementation of food safety requirements in the various cities and centers of the governorate (Tanta, Zefta, Qutour, Basyoun, Al-Santa, Kafr Al-Zayat, Al-Mahalla, Samanoud). These campaigns resulted in the arrest of 5,000 people. A package of snacks not fit for human consumption, 800 kg Qamar Al Din and 250 kg expired dried apricots.

Based on the Public Prosecution’s decision, 1 ton and 200 kg of expired food items (snacks, crackers, chocolate, and flavorings) were destroyed.

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 implementing corrective measures for those facilities.

10 prosecution decisions were also implemented, and 50 kg of expired food items (canned goods, crackers, soft drinks, baked goods, and dairy products) were destroyed.

We participated in major 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 79 reports, which varied between reports of lack of health requirements, seizure and withdrawal of samples of a quantity of food materials estimated at 1 and a half tons (meat, poultry, products). Dairy, canned goods) as part of the daily campaigns to control the markets. Samples of food suspected of being fit for use were taken, and all seized items were seized to take legal measures. Food was also examined in rehabilitation and reform centers.

The Food Safety Branch in Damietta Governorate launched 6 joint inspection campaigns with (the Directorate of Supply, Veterinary Medicine, Health, the Consumer Protection Agency, and the Environment Department at the General Office) on 45 food facilities in the governorate’s centers (Al-Rawda, Mit Abu Ghaleb, Zarqa, Faraskur, Ezbet Al-Burj, Kafr Watermelon) and these campaigns resulted in the destruction of 272 kilograms of expired foodstuffs that had changed their natural properties (tuna, baked goods, oils, pickles, meat, grated cheese, and pastries). The execution process took place in the presence of representatives of the Food Safety Authority and members of the formed committee.

The Food Safety Branch in Fayoum Governorate inspected 18 kitchens belonging to civil society organizations in the Fayoum, Senoras and Abshway centers, to determine the readiness of these kitchens to prepare cooked meals during the holy month of Ramadan 2024 AD – 1445 AH, to provide these meals as support to the families most in need and most cared for in the governorate, and coordination is still ongoing. To inspect all targeted kitchens.

The branch also carried out inspection campaigns on 32 food establishments in the city of Fayoum, the Senoras Center, the Fayoum Center and the Youssef Al-Siddiq Center, some of which were in collaboration with the Consumer Protection Agency, the Directorate of Supply and Internal Trade, and the Tourism Committee in the governorate. The campaigns resulted in the destruction of a quantity of food items, some of which were expired and some of which were expired. It has signs of apparent corruption, and 2 reports of managing an establishment without a license, a report of seizing a quantity of food (meat) in a restaurant suspected of being fit for human consumption, 9 reports of the absence of health certificates for workers, and all reports were presented to the Public Prosecution to take the necessary action.

The Food Safety Branch in Sharkia Governorate conducted 13 inspection campaigns, passing through 60 food establishments within the centers of (Zagazig, Deir Najm, Belbeis, Awlad Saqr, Faqous, Abu Hammad, Minya al-Qamh), which resulted in the destruction of a quantity of expired and invalid food products. For human consumption (honey, brown sugar, hohos, dates, cheeses, spice mixes, and other foodstuffs).

8 food establishments that had previously been given a period to implement food safety requirements were re-trafficed, and the response of those establishments was verified.

The Food Safety Branch in Menoufia Governorate conducted 10 inspection campaigns, where 42 food establishments were visited within the governorate (Shebin El-Kom, Ashmoun, El-Bajour, Tala, Menouf), and a quantity of food supplies was seized for 69 expired items (cakes, snacks, juices). , spice mixes) and other food products, and all products were destroyed in the presence of a committee of inspectors from the National Food Safety Authority.

A joint inspection campaign was also formed with the Consumer Protection Agency at the Ashmoun Center, which resulted in the seizure of 3.9 tons of black honey, and legal measures were taken.

The Food Safety Branch in Dakahlia Governorate carried out 13 inspection campaigns, some of which were joint with other regulatory authorities (Directorate of Health, Veterinary Medicine, Supply, Supply Investigations, Environment), where 36 food facilities were visited in centers and some villages within the governorate (East Mantoura District, Talkha, Al-Sinbillawin).

These campaigns resulted in the destruction of 582 kg of spoiled food products and others that appeared to have changed characteristics (meat and chicken products, various sauces, dairy products, pasta, cheese, fish) and other various food items.

These campaigns also resulted in 51 violations for not implementing health requirements, 40 violations for not having health certificates, and 59 violations for not having an establishment license, and the necessary reports for these violations were prepared.

The Food Safety Authority branch in Sohag Governorate launched 10 inspection campaigns on 33 food establishments within the cities and centers of (Sohag, Maragha, Akhmim). These campaigns resulted in the destruction of expired food products that were unfit for human consumption, and food establishments not registered with the Authority were alerted to the necessity of Registration and application of food safety requirements.

The Food Safety Branch in Beni Suef Governorate launched campaigns on 17 food facilities in the area of ​​Sherif Basha villages, the Beni Suleiman checkpoint and the Biba Center, which resulted in the seizure and destruction of a quantity of expired food items of unknown origin (dairy products, spices, frozen vegetables) and the necessary reports were prepared for presentation. On the prosecution.

The Food Safety Branch in 10th of Ramadan City carried out an extensive inspection campaign on 25 food establishments, which resulted in the seizure and destruction of 200 kilograms of various expired food products that were not fit for human consumption (instant pasta, various juices). It was also found that there was a deficiency in food safety requirements. Warning these establishments and giving them a period to rectify their situation and avoid the detected violations.

The Food Safety Branch in New Aswan Governorate conducted 8 inspection campaigns, where 25 food establishments were visited. These campaigns resulted in the issuance of 2 execution reports for expired food items that were unfit for human consumption (crackers, biscuits, spice mixes), and pledges were taken from some establishments. Food safety by implementing the requirements for food safety and registering with the Authority.

The Food Safety Branch in Assiut Governorate launched 10 campaigns against 10 food establishments, which resulted in the seizure and execution of 116 kilograms of various expired food products (spice mixes, yogurt, luncheon meat, baked goods, flavorings, crackers, biscuits, and chocolate cream). Death reports were issued for all of them. products and taking the necessary legal measures. Pledges were also taken from some food establishments to implement food safety requirements and register with the Authority.