The European Commission has commended the efficiency of Egypt’s National Food Safety System, noting a remarkable decline in the rejection rate of Egyptian agricultural exports within the European Union — from 15% to just 2.1% during the latest export season. This significant drop clearly reflects the effectiveness of the new control system implemented by the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) and the growing compliance with European quality standards.
According to a report by the European Commission’s inspection mission, this notable improvement resulted from the application of precise mechanisms based on risk analysis and smart sampling of export-oriented agricultural products, in addition to stringent monitoring of farms, packing houses, and export facilities.
During its inspection visit to Egypt from October 5 to 16, 2025, the European delegation praised the efficiency of Egypt’s regulatory system for monitoring pesticide residues in agricultural crops and lauded the expertise and competence of Egyptian inspectors and analysts. The delegation affirmed that the NFSA has become a regional model in implementing the risk analysis approach and in ensuring rapid response to emerging food safety concerns.
The European review covered several crops exported to the EU, including oranges, custard apples, peppers, grape leaves, and fresh and frozen strawberries. The inspection results showed a high level of compliance with European standards and food safety requirements.
As the official liaison with the European Commission, the NFSA coordinated the visit in collaboration with the Agricultural Pesticides Committee, the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine, the Central Laboratory of Residue Analysis of Pesticides and Heavy Metals (QCAP), and the Central Agricultural Pesticides Laboratory (CAPL), along with the Export Councils for Agricultural Crops and Food Industries. This integrated national framework led to highly positive outcomes.
At the conclusion of the visit, the Head of the EU Delegation expressed appreciation—during his meeting with Dr. Tarek El-Houby, Chairman of the NFSA—for the well-organized coordination among Egyptian institutions. He emphasized that Egypt’s regulatory system demonstrates high efficiency and strong institutional integration, reinforcing the continued confidence and stability of Egyptian exports to European markets.
The NFSA affirmed that the results of this audit underscore Egypt’s success in passing previous EU inspections and in consolidating European trust in the national food control system — a success that enhances the competitiveness of Egyptian agricultural exports and their ability to penetrate global markets.
