International Standards

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General Standards

The Egyptian system includes 8,500 standards, 5,000 of which represent Egyptian technical regulations or mandatory standards. Mandatory standards are harmonized with international standards - about 80% of its them are based on standards issued by international institutions such as the Geneva-based International Organization for Standardization. In addition, importers are allowed to choose a relevant standard from this international standards systems ISO, European standards, American standards, Japanese standards, British standards, German standards and Codex standards (for food products), in the absence of a mandatory Egyptian standard.

Mandatory standards constitute around 15% of the total number of Egyptian specifications.

Standards Organizations

There are three main standardizations bodies involved in developing and enforcing standards in Egypt:

Egyptian Organization for Standards and Quality Control (EOS)

The EOS is responsible for promulgating standards and technical regulations through a consultative process with other ministries and the private sector. Standardization agencies such as the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and the General Organization for Import Export Control (GOEIC) are responsible for the verification of compliance with standards and technical regulations.

General Authority of Export and Import Control (GOEIC)

GOEIC is a part of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Investment. It comprises 26 offices and laboratories located at all the major sea and airports. GOEIC is responsible for testing imported and exported products to ensure that they comply with EOS standards. In addition, GOEIC may indirectly generate standards through the use of an "ad hoc" technical committee. This committee provides recommendations for either creating or modifying a standard. These recommendations are then passed on to the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Investment to be authorized and formalized.

The National Institute for Standards (NIS)

NIS represents the primary standards laboratory of Egypt. NIS is specialized in measurements, testing, calibration, accreditation and consultation, and it also provides laboratory accreditation services.

Conformity Assessment

Egyptian import regulations require that every component of a product is inspected, regardless of the country of origin, exporter, shipper, or importer. Imported products cannot be sold on the Egyptian market without conforming to Egyptian specifications or the standards of one of the international organizations that Egypt is affiliated with.

There is a conformity assessment issue called “standard creation at port”. This refers to the fact that product entering Egypt for the first time require a written description or standard to qualify a product for import. Even if there is no such standard for the new product, the customs representatives will try to fit the product into a previously existing standards category.

The inspection and testing of the imported products vary according to the nature of the consignment. For example, agricultural products will be inspected by special agricultural authorities of the Ministry of Agriculture. Industrial and manufactured commodities may be directed for control at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Investment. Medical products, will be inspected by the Ministry of Health, EOS and other accredited laboratories. Imported chemicals or white powder materials are inspected by the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) and The Chemical Institution’ labs, any other analysis certificates will not be considered.

Samples of the imported products must be sent to the GOEIC, in order to classify them according to HS codes. This is an important procedure when customs authorities are unsure about product classification and tariffs. The EOS uses the past history of products, manufacturers, exporters and importers, in setting standards for clearing imported goods. This helps to reduce inspection for products that are imported frequently into the country. When a product is imported for the first time, it goes through full inspection, further imports undergo simpler inspections.

Accreditation

The Egyptian Accreditation Council (EGAC), a governmental organization, is the national body for the assessment and accreditation of conformity assessment of bodies that perform testing/calibration, as well as inspection and certification of products, systems and personnel. EGAC is administered by the Minister of Trade and Industry and governed by a board of 14 members.

Labeling and Marking

Imported food products are subject to a number of labeling and packaging requirements. For example, poultry and meat products must be shipped directly from the country of origin to Egypt and sealed in packaging with details in Arabic both inside and outside the package.

Food products must be appropriately packaged - packages should be clean and odorless. Production and expiration dates must be clearly indicated on the product's packaging in Arabic. The label must include the following details:

- name and address of manufacturer

- name and address of importer

- brand or trade mark

- country of origin

- type of product

- production and expiration dates

- product use instructions, storage instructions/storage temperature

- ingredients

- net weight

- gross weight and total number of packages per case or carton

- percentages of each preservative must be indicated

- meat and poultry, should provide the statement "slaughtered according to Islamic ritual or “Halal”

Meat and poultry must be packaged in sealed bags. Labels must be inserted both inside and outside the package. Meat labels must include the following information:

- country of origin

- producer’s name and logo

- name of slaughterhouse

- slaughter date

- name and address of importer

- name of entity, which issued the “Islamic slaughter” definition.

Packaging requirements

Packages should be fit for preserving the product, and the product should occupy the space of the container in full. Wooden containers should be accompanied by an official certificate stating that it is free from wood-harmful pests and insects. The country of origin should be indicated on each item. It should be non-erasable. Packages should be accompanied with a catalogue in Arabic indicating:

- an illustrative design of the parts

- mode of assembly and operation

- maintenance procedure

- electrical circuits for electrical equipment

Contacts

Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS)

Head: Dr. Eng. Hassan Ahmed Abdel-Megeid

Website: http://www.eos.org.eg/Public/en-us/Default

Email: moi@idsc.net.eg

Address: Chairman 16 Tadrib El Moalemeen St., Amirya, Cairo

Tel: +20 (2) 2284-5528, +20 (2) 22845529

Fax: +20 (2) 22845504