URGENT: IMF lifts Egypt's 2025 growth forecast to 4%    Gold prices rise slightly on July 29th    Egypt's FM urges UK to pressure Israel to stop Gaza war    H. Kong's trade volume jumps in June '25    Egypt's anti-drug body launches new awareness phase in Maspero Triangle    Minister El-Shimy pushes for stronger returns, partnerships in real estate, construction sectors    Apparel, textile chambers engage with Chinese delegation to explore investment opportunities in Egypt    Agiba Petroleum starts production from Arcadia-28 at 4,100 BOE/day    Egypt reviews health insurance funding mechanism to ensure long-term sustainability    Obama calls for aid access to Gaza, says 'no justification' for withholding food    Gaza on verge of famine as war escalates, ceasefire talks stall    Gaza crisis, trade on agenda as Trump hosts Starmer in Scotland    Egyptian president follows up on initiatives to counter extremist thought    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Egypt will keep pushing for Gaza peace, aid: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Egypt to combat mislabeling of organic products
Published in Daily News Egypt on 14 - 12 - 2010

CAIRO: Egypt will begin tightening the regulation and monitoring of the organic food industry, namely in regards to the accurate labeling and specification of products, an official said Monday.
Trade and Industry Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid said in a statement that the measures are meant to protect consumers from fraud and deception; and that agencies and companies involved in the implementation of this resolution have three months to comply with its provisions.
According to the International Trade Center (ITC), “Egypt has a well developed and rapidly growing organic sector. Organic production focuses on about 500 farming enterprises.”
An ITC report said that Egyptian organic farmers grow a variety of crops, including grapes, citrus, dates mangoes and strawberries, vegetables, cereals and spices as well as non-food crops including cotton and medical plants.
“While much produce is exported, primarily to Europe, Egypt is also one of the few African countries that enjoy domestic demand for a number of organic products. The ongoing expansion of the domestic market continues to diminish the local producers' reliance on export sales, thereby encouraging buoyant investment activity in the sector,” the report added.
In a bid to capitalize on this growing demand, Rachid explained that some companies are illegally manipulating the specifications and labels of non-organic products and offering them to consumers as organic.
The ministry's decision defined organic products as those that utilize internationally-recognized methods in the entire production process, up until the product's arrival to the end-consumer. The products must also be approved by the Egyptian Organization for Standards and Quality.
The new regulations aim to prevent businesses from labeling products as “organic” unless they are registered with the Authority for Standards and Quality and are certified for organic production in Egypt. Regulatory bodies will then randomly inspect facilities licensed for production of organic products.
Yasser Abdel Latif, quality assurance manager at Wadi Foods, a family-owned agri-business company, lauded the new regulations saying they will be “good for business.”
“Wadi Food farms have been certified by BCS, a German firm licensed as a private controlling agency which certifies organic producers based on EU regulations on organic production, since 2006,” said Abdel Latif.
“We use the most advanced technologies in organic farming and food processing, and are currently following all local and international regulations. We even export organic products to the most demanding markets in terms of quality and specifications including France and Spain,” he added.
Abdel Latif said that the regulations should “purge out of all the illegal and misleading products” from the markets increasing consumer trust and satisfaction with certified products.
In the statement, Hany Barakat, head of the Egyptian General Authority for Standards and Quality, said that meetings will be held during the next few days with inspection and certification bodies responsible for organic production to develop mechanisms and procedures for the implementation of this resolution.


Clic here to read the story from its source.