The General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) received approximately 15,636 imported food and industry containers totalling 3 million tonnes for examination during March. The examination results showed the validity of 15,483 containers, while 153 were rejected for non-conformity to standards. The report pointed out that the number of imported industrial containers amounted to 9,776, while food containers amounted to 5,860, 5,813 of those were accepted. The most important accepted food commodities are wheat, corn, soybeans, meat, fish, oils and vegetable fats, and poultry, while the rejected commodities are often cacao, canned foods, and vegetables. Accepted imported industrial containers amounted to 9,670, which mainly contained detergents, ceramics, toys, electric lamps, stones, and abrasives. Minister of Industry and Trade Tarek Kabil said that the control of imported and exported products and the rejection of bad goods comes within the framework of the ministry's plan to improve the quality of products, whether exported or imported. Kabil pointed out that the implementation of the strategy that was recently launched by the ministry to boost Egypt's trade contributed to the recovery of all export sectors, to rationalising imports, and to increasing the confidence on local products and increasing Egyptian consumer demand to buy national products. He noted that the ministry is keen on developing the procedural system in order to accelerate the pace of inspection and release of shipments as well as not to accumulate products in different ports, provided that these goods conform to the standard specifications and technical requirements to ensure their quality and safety. The minister pointed out that there is cooperation between the ministry, represented by the GOEIC, and the Ministry of Finance, represented by the Egyptian Customs Authority, to make sure the standards and specifications on all products, whether exported or imported, are applied. From his part, head of the GOEIC Ismail Gaber said that his organisation aims to remove all obstacles for serious exporters and importers, with an emphasis on facing all types of fraud and manipulation. Gaber pointed out that registered, amended, and renewed commercial records at all GOEIC branches amount to1,851 records—this comprises 585 applications for import records, 714 applications for export records, 225 applications for commercial agent records, and 327 applications for production requirement records. Gaber noted that the GOEIC has issued 28,270 certificates of origin for exported Egyptian goods as specified in rules of origin protocols concerning preferential trade agreements between Egypt and many other countries and economic blocs for exemptions and customs advantages granted to Egyptian exports. GOEIC set investigative measures regarding the origins of exported and imported goods from countries with preferential agreements. The GOEIC investigated 90 export certificates and 267 import certificates.
