Cairo: Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister, met with Dr. Tarek El-Houby, the Head of the National Food Safety Authority, to discuss the implementation of the Authority’s strategic plan for 2023-2026. The meeting focused on enhancing food safety to protect consumer health, developing the food and agricultural production sector, and promoting research and innovation within the framework of Egypt’s strategic goals for sustainable development, known as “Egypt Vision 2030.”
According to State Information Service Egypt, Dr. Tarek El-Houby outlined the progress made on the strategic plan’s five main objectives. For the first objective, which involves enhancing compliance with food safety practices, the Authority has established requirements and controls for inspection lists in collaboration with industrial chambers. These measures aim to bolster sound practices and support a culture of health safety. The Authority has also launched awareness campaigns targeting food producers and consumers and created specialized inspection lists for filling stations.
The Authority has streamlined procedures for food facility operators by reducing inspection rates and making necessary documents available online. In terms of the second objective, the Authority is updating food safety legislation and regulatory frameworks. It has prepared a mechanism for creating and reviewing mandatory technical regulations with private sector involvement, establishing a risk-based food monitoring system, and updating regulations regarding product shelf lives.
Dr. El-Houby highlighted efforts to cooperate with national and international partners to enhance Egypt’s role as a leading food producer, corresponding with the third objective. The Authority has engaged in international activities and signed cooperation protocols with various countries. It is also working with the Food and Agriculture Organization to evaluate and improve Egypt’s national food monitoring system.
For the fourth objective, the Authority is building scientific capacities by enhancing laboratory capabilities and developing new reference laboratories. These laboratories are equipped with modern technology and training programs to ensure high-performance analysis. The Authority is also linking laboratories to an electronic system to facilitate information transfer and expedite result issuance.
Finally, Dr. El-Houby discussed the fifth objective, which focuses on developing a qualified workforce and activating food monitoring operations. The Authority is creating a safe and supportive environment for its human resources, collaborating with technical institutes, and digitizing monitoring processes. It has also launched specialized training programs and is developing an automated food monitoring system for the local market.
The Authority has achieved significant milestones, such as executing approximately 76,500 inspection missions in 2024 and responding to 99.7% of complaints through the government complaints system. Additionally, the Authority conducted 250 land export inspections, examining around 1,046 shipments and collecting approximately 140,000 samples from incoming shipments at ports.