Saudi promises to lift strawberry, pepper import ban a little later than expected: Saudi Arabian authorities have reportedly agreed to lift the blanket ban on strawberry and pepper imports from Egypt ahead of the coming export season in November, sources from Egypt’s Agriculture Ministry said. Deputy Minister Safwat El Haddad had said earlier this month that Saudi authorities would lift the ban this March after a meeting between Agriculture Minister Abdel Moneim Al Banna and his Saudi counterpart. Saudi Arabia had decided to ban imports of Egyptian strawberries and peppers last year due to high levels of residual pesticides. A delegation from Egypt’s Agricultural Quarantine Authority had also traveled to Riyadh earlier this month to negotiate an end to the ban. Saudi has also banned imports of Egyptian guavas.