CAIRO: An European Union (EU) delegation will begin a five-day tour in the Egyptian governorates of Minya and Fayoum tomorrow to conduct E. coli inspection checks on Egyptian seeds. Egyptian seeds were earlier blamed for causing E. coli outbreaks in different European countries. The EU delegation will analyze suspected strains and submit a report on the safety of certain Egyptian seeds before the ban on imports of 15 varieties of Egyptians goods is imposed against Egypt. The European delegation met with the Egyptian Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation and his deputies and the Head of the Egyptian Plant Quarantine Ali Suleiman at the Ministry of Agriculture headquarters. The attendants kicked off the visit by holding a discussion about the recent decision to ban Egyptian products as well as different reports issued from Egyptian and international laboratories. “The international fact-finding mission will visit the Minya, Fayoum and Beni Suef governorates,” said Suleiman at a press conference. “An initial report will be issued to each governorate at the end of the civil tour.” The reports will include international and European notes on the visit and an Egyptian report will be completed to help with the drafting of a final report, according to officials. The EU will discuss the final report and decide whether or not to enforce the ban on Egyptian goods.
