The visit, aimed at boosting Egyptian agricultural exports, followed directives from Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk and Dr. Ahmed Azzam, Head of the Agricultural Services and Follow-up Sector, to intensify efforts to facilitate agricultural exports.
During an opening meeting, Dr. Mohamed El-Mansi, Head of the
Central Administration for Agricultural Quarantine, presented Egypt's coding
and tracking system and efforts to align with importing countries' quality
requirements.
The delegation toured key facilities, including the Plant
Protection Research Institute, where Director Dr. Ahmed Abdel Maged showcased its
advanced technological system for insect identification and its unique global
insect museum. They also inspected the Central Laboratory for the Analysis of
Pesticide Residues and Heavy Metals in Food, where Director Dr. Hend Abdallah
presented the lab's role in export analysis and its quality certifications.
Plant health officials then accompanied the South African
experts on field visits to several accredited and coded pomegranate farms and
packing stations to observe control systems from the farm to the export port.
The South African delegation lauded the Egyptian efforts,
particularly the Agricultural Quarantine's ability to apply all international
plant health standards, including cold treatment systems, and its rigorous
control via the coding and tracking system. They concluded that this confirms
the readiness of Egyptian produce for the South African market.
The visit was coordinated between the Egyptian Agricultural Quarantine, Commercial Counselor Ihab Salah El Din, Head of the Trade Office in Pretoria, the Agricultural Export Council, the Foreign Agricultural Relations Sector, and other relevant ministry bodies.