Saad Moussa, supervisor of Egypt's Central Administration of Plant Quarantine (CAPQ), clarified that Saudi Arabia's recent ban on strawberry imports is not exclusive to Egypt. The decision, outlined in an official letter to Egypt, encompasses a temporary suspension of strawberry imports from all markets, not just Egypt, as stated in a cabinet announcement on Sunday.
Moussa emphasized that the rationale behind this decision is unrelated to quarantine or health concerns. Importers with valid permits are receiving their shipments without hindrance, indicating that Saudi Arabia is regulating imports from all countries worldwide based on market dynamics and local production conditions.
He confirmed that import permits for strawberries will resume issuance from February 1. Additionally, Minister of Agriculture Mohamed El-Quseir is actively monitoring developments related to Egyptian agricultural exports in collaboration with the quarantine department.
Earlier, the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture had announced a ban on strawberry imports from Egypt, specifying that any shipments imported before January 24, preceding the 15-day validity period of import permits, would be rejected.
Egypt's food exports witnessed a notable increase of 15 percent, reaching $4.3 billion during the first 10 months of 2023, compared to $3.8 billion in the corresponding period of 2022.
Source: english.ahram.org.eg