Egypt cracks down on bread violations

Egypt’s Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade has intensified monitoring campaigns on bakeries and markets, particularly free-market and French bakeries, to ensure compliance with regulations on bread prices and weights.

Supply Minister Sherif Farouk stressed that all bakeries must comply with the prescribed prices and weights for free-market bread and fino bread, warning that violations involving price manipulation, reduced weights, or exploitation of citizens would face decisive legal action.

The ministry has directed its directorates and monitoring agencies to intensify field inspections of bakeries, markets, and commercial outlets, verify the clear display of prices and compliance with prescribed weights and specifications, and monitor the quality and safety of products offered to citizens.

Farouk said market monitoring is an ongoing process, with the ministry regularly following up on campaign results and promptly addressing complaints related to prices, weights, or the quality of goods.

An intensive monitoring campaign in the Esna district of Luxor Governorate resulted in 36 supply violations. The violations included selling free-market bread above the prescribed price, producing underweight or non-compliant bread, failing to display prices, and failing to maintain clean dough-mixing equipment.

The violations also included operating establishments without a licence and failing to have an operating list.

The Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade said monitoring campaigns would continue in Luxor and across Egypt to ensure bakeries comply with relevant decisions and laws and that necessary legal measures are taken against all detected violations.