EU Lifts the Ban on Egyptian seeds

European Union issued a decision to lift the ban imposed on the Egyptian cultivar seeds after confirming that the seeds are free of E. coli bacteria, as this ban lasted for about 9 months on the Egyptian seeds.

Dr.  Ali Suleiman’s -director of agriculture quarantine and former chairman of the Brown Rot Project – said that Egypt implements all European requirements of exporting agriculture products to the EU in accordance with the requirements of the agency of food safety.

He explained that the Egyptian Fenugreek is not a reason of E. coli bacteria, and lifting of the ban was the result of the EU’s confirmation that Egyptian Fenugreek is free of the bacteria, after a long period of analysis, that was executed in the entities of food safety of the European Union.

To be mentioned that a report was issued by EU’s authorities of food safety, in July 2011 to ban the importation of Egyptian seeds on temporary basis because of the spread of E. coli bacteria, which hit some countries in the European Union, including France and Germany and caused thousands of citizens to be infected with the bacteria after eating some food, as MENA stated.

So the result of EU uncertainties, regarding the Fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt, the European Commission issued a withdrawal decision of all imported quantities of Egyptian seeds, and executing these.