With steady professional messaging and step-by-step regulatory moves, Dr. Tareq El-Houby is steering the Egyptian National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) toward broader alignment with international standards and closer collaboration with ecosystem partners (the ministries of Industry, Investment, Agriculture, and Health; export councils; and relevant government bodies).
The payoff is rising consumer confidence and stronger competitiveness for Egyptian food exports.
In government meetings and technical deliberations, El-Houby has laid out the Authority’s pillars and strategic goals, affirming that food safety is a cornerstone of food security, public health, and sustainable development.
Technical expertise driving reform
Appointed NFSA Chairman in October 2022, Dr. Tareq El-Houby brings 35+ years of experience across dairy, juices, poultry, and meat, with advanced studies in healthy/functional foods, dairy microbiology, and dairy technology.
He has deep prior experience applying food-safety standards and international norms governing food handling.
This scientific and practical background enables him to translate regulations into measurable operating practices—and he is known for consistently thinking outside the box.
International alignment and independent assessments
El-Houby’s approach centers on simplifying compliance without compromising global safety requirements—via daily coordination with government entities, export councils, and the Federation of Egyptian Industries—to shorten clearance times, raise factory export readiness, and expand laboratory accreditation to international specifications.
He emphasizes learning from advanced food-safety systems worldwide, applying global standards to lift product quality.
His regular presence at major international food exhibitions helps benchmark global product quality and buyer requirements—supporting higher food-industry exports and protecting the reputation of Egyptian products.
NFSA has deepened cooperation with international organizations to assess and improve oversight: a national assessment with the FAO produced recommendations and a priority roadmap, while collaboration with the WHO has expanded to update standards in line with the SDGs، These efforts are translating into regulatory and training upgrades that facilitate trade and enhance supply-chain safety.
Easier market access and stronger accreditation
On the export track, NFSA has supported mutual recognition pathways and joint inspections with peer agencies—among them delegations from Saudi Arabia’s SFDA visiting dozens of Egyptian facilities—to speed acceptance and boost factory readiness.
In parallel, the Authority continues widening ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory accreditation, reinforcing external recognition of Egypt’s regulatory system.
Reopening Egyptian fish exports to the EU
Under El-Houby, Egypt resumed fish exports to the European Union after a roughly three-year pause, following completion of European Commission requirements and upgrades to oversight and traceability along the value chain.
The official announcement came in late 2024, backed by an EU on-site review (May–June 2024) and subsequent confirmations into early 2025—a step that rebuilt partner confidence and reopened a valuable channel for Egyptian seafood exports.
A coordinating interface for the food economy
The NFSA chief is active in cross-government coordination with the Prime Minister and economic ministries on market and export plans, and in sector forums with business leaders to accelerate regulatory reform and streamline procedures without diluting food safety.
The result is a broader working network across the state, private sector, and international partners that strengthens legislative discipline and cuts compliance time.
article written by : mohamed metwally
