Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met with Tarek El-Hoby, head of Egypt’s National Food Safety Authority (NFSA), to evaluate progress on the authority’s 2023–2026 strategic plan. The meeting centered on the plan’s key objectives, designed to advance food safety, foster development in Egypt’s food and agricultural production, and strengthen confidence in Egyptian food products.
Madbouly highlighted the importance of closely monitoring the strategy’s implementation, emphasizing its focus on protecting consumer health, promoting innovation and research, and enhancing human resources and infrastructure within food control systems. These efforts align with Egypt’s Vision 2030 for sustainable development.
El-Hoby provided an update on progress across the plan’s five main objectives:
1. Promoting Food Safety Compliance
The NFSA has implemented technical inspection checklists tailored to various activities, developed in collaboration with industrial chambers. These efforts aim to instill a culture of compliance with best practices in food safety among producers and operators. Key initiatives include:
- Launching awareness campaigns for producers and consumers.
- Simplifying procedures for food facility operators, such as reducing inspection rates.
- Introducing a phased compliance model, progressing from voluntary adherence to full regulatory enforcement.
2. Enhancing Food Safety Legislation
To modernize regulatory frameworks, the authority has prepared a draft mechanism for creating and reviewing mandatory technical regulations, ensuring greater transparency and private sector involvement. Key achievements include:
- Establishing a risk-based food control system.
- Updating standards for food product shelf life.
- Streamlining import procedures for production inputs at border crossings.
The authority has also launched an online journal to publish legislation and research, supporting transparency and accessibility.
3. Strengthening International Cooperation
The NFSA is working to position Egypt as a trusted producer of food and agricultural products by:
- Unifying food control efforts with regional partners, particularly in Arab and African countries.
- Increasing participation in international events and Codex Alimentarius activities.
- Signing mutual recognition protocols with various nations.
- Collaborating with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to evaluate Egypt’s national food control system.
4. Building Scientific Capabilities
To enhance laboratory capacity, the authority has:
- Established reference laboratories to support local facilities.
- Equipped new laboratories with advanced technology.
- Developed training programs for personnel.
- Created an electronic system to streamline information sharing among laboratories.
5. Developing a Skilled Workforce
The NFSA is investing in workforce development and process improvement through:
- Training programs for food inspectors.
- Strengthening partnerships with technical and academic institutions.
- Digitizing control processes and decision-making tools.
- Implementing a management system with performance indicators for food safety.
Operational Highlights
El-Hoby also shared operational achievements:
- The number of inspection missions increased from 50,600 in 2023 to approximately 76,500 in 2024.
- The NFSA addressed 99.7% of complaints received through the government complaints system.
- Around 140,000 samples were withdrawn from shipments arriving at ports, and 1,046 consignments underwent export inspections.
The NFSA’s automation project for food production and trade control is advancing, with the aim of providing stakeholders access to streamlined services and data-driven decision-making tools. Additionally, the authority is refining its organizational structure to eliminate overlaps in jurisdiction and ensure efficient governance.
Egypt’s National Food Safety Authority continues to demonstrate significant progress in implementing its strategic vision, reinforcing food safety, enhancing trust in local products, and contributing to the nation’s sustainable development goals.
