Egypt’s New Supply Minister Removes Price Control on Fruit, Vegetables

Egypt has removed on Monday price control on fruits and vegetables which was imposed during resigned prime minister Hazem el-Beblawi’s tenure.

In a press conference held on Monday, Egypt’s newly appointed Minister of Supply Dr. Khaled Hanafy announced the removal of  price controls on fruits and vegetables, which encourage black market to flourish.

In 2013, The transitional government put in place after the military ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July had published a list of fruit and vegetable prices in a bid to keep consumer expenses down, warning it would eventually crack down on merchants if they did not adhere. Former supply minister Mohamed Abu Shady, the minister responsible for investigating supply crimes and who imposed mandatory prices on fruits and vegetables, said offenders could be fined up to EGP 2000 and sentenced to between one and five years in jail for ignoring the price controls.