EGYPT – The government of Japan has lifted the 25-year-old ban imposed on Egytian citrus following years of dialogue and negotiations by government officials of both countries.

The ban was imposed on allegations that the fruits were not meeting Japan’s health specifications phytosanitary measures of imported products.

Over the last few years, several countries have imposed bans on some agricultural products from Egypt, citing high levels of pesticides.

Therefore, Egypt has been enforcing new regulations and inspection measures to ensure the quality of its agricultural exports.

It introduced a new system under which crops are inspected several times while in the fields, after harvest, and after they are prepared for export.

According to Egyptian Independent, from January until October 2020, the total volume of Egyptian agricultural exports has risen to over 4.3 million tons.

The most important agricultural exports of this period include citrus, potatoes, onions, grapes, pomegranate, garlic, mangoes, strawberries, beans, guava, cucumbers, peppers, and eggplant.

Citrus fruit exports amounted to 1,397,945 tons as the most exported agricultural product, with potatoes coming in second place with 677,921 tons.

Onions came in third place with 333,002 tons exported, while grapes came in fourth with 138,566 tons exported, pomegranate fifth with 48,627 tons, garlic in sixth place with 34,366 tons and mango ranking seventh with 29,266 tons.

In the first ten months of the year, the total volume of Egyptian agricultural exports has risen to over 4.3 million tons.

Egypt’s exports of strawberry ranked eighth followed by beans and guava.

The country is also set to resume poultry exports after a 14-year hiatus following a long suspension caused by the avian flu crisis in 2006.

According to reports by Arab News, the resumption of poultry exports will require the approval of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), which has to list Egypt among the countries with avian influenza free establishments.

The Head of the Poultry Division of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce Abdul Aziz Al-Sayed revealed that a number of Egyptian poultry companies are preparing to export their first shipments to the Saudi market.

Other than Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates said that it would allow imports of table egg from Egypt, as well as chilled and frozen poultry, after the country adopts a veterinary health certificate.

The UAE will also import ducks and live quails, provided that Egypt gives a full list of its poultry farms and facilities.

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