Kuwait officially lifts ban on Egyptian agricultural imports, to enforce stricter inspection measures: The Kuwaiti Trade and Industry Ministry announced on Thursday that it has lifted a ban it had imposed on Egyptian agricultural imports due to concerns over pesticide residue, Kuwait’s state news agency reports. The decision to lift the ban on Egyptian onions, lettuce, peppers, and guava was based on recommendations from the country’s main authority on food safety, which deemed the crops safe for consumption. These crops will also face stricter inspection measures for the coming three months at least, as authorities intend to sample all incoming shipments and create a database of the main importers of these crops to ensure appropriate action is taken in case of violations. Kuwait’s Health Minister denied yesterday that some shipments had been released from customs, as news reports had suggested, confirming that they are still pending the paperwork outlined in Thursday’s decision.

Bahrain, Saudi, the UAE, and Jordan are said to have also lifted their respective bans on Egyptian produce. Egypt’s ministries of trade and agriculture are working on new regulations that are expected to improve quality and boost overall exports.