Egypt’s Chamber of Food Industries addresses challenges in meat, poultry processing sector

EGYPT – Egypt’s Chamber of Food Industries recently convened its meat and poultry processing division to address ongoing sector challenges and evaluate new product standards. 

Discussions centered on a proposal that would require electronic invoices for slaughter services, as well as the enforcement of the 2009 Poultry Trading Law, which prohibits the sale and slaughter of live poultry.

During the meeting, Chamber board member Mohamed El-Shafie introduced a new initiative developed in collaboration with research centers.

The program aims to repurpose food and agricultural waste into by-products, adding value to food manufacturing while reducing environmental waste.

El-Shafie emphasized the importance of the electronic invoicing proposal as a measure against tax evasion and a tool for quality assurance.

He noted that the proposal would undergo further review by the Chamber’s Board.

Technical support services for meat and poultry industry stakeholders, such as slaughterhouses and processing factories, were also mentioned at the meeting.

Reda Abdel Galil, General Manager of Technical Affairs at the Chamber, explained that the Chamber has provided a variety of technical assistance and training programs to help stakeholders meet the standards set by Egypt’s National Food Safety Authority.

This meeting follows recent government measures impacting the meat and poultry market. In June 2023, Egypt temporarily lifted tariffs on imported frozen chicken, a move that significantly benefited Brazilian exporters.

According to local sources, Brazil shipped approximately 200,000 tonnes of poultry to Egypt last year, making it a key supplier. Other significant poultry sources for Egypt include Thailand, Ukraine, and the United States.

Currently, Egyptian-produced broiler chicken costs around US$1.50 per kilogram, while imported frozen chicken is priced at roughly US$1.36 per kilogram.

The Egyptian meat market, which generated about US$28.18 billion in 2024, is projected to grow by an annual rate of 9.73% through 2029.

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