Kuwait to continue enforcing strict inspection measures on Egyptian agricultural imports for three months: Kuwait’s Public Authority for Food and Nutrition (KPAFN) reportedly decided to continue enforcing strict inspection measures on Egyptian agricultural imports for another three months as of 25 July, unnamed Egyptian quarantine officials said yesterday. The decision was based on a recommendation of the GCC country’s highest food safety authority, according to the sources. Kuwait enforced strict inspection measures on imported Egyptian produce last year after lifting a ban it had imposed due to concerns over residual pesticide levels. Egypt began to take steps last year to tighten quality control and inspection of agricultural cargo earmarked for export, after Kuwait and other GCC countries, including Saudi and the UAE, decided to ban imports from Egypt due to overuse of pesticides.

This came as the Cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Center dismissed as hearsay social media reports suggesting that various countries had banned imports of seven Egyptian crops, according to a statement picked up by Al Masry Al Youm. Agriculture Ministry spokesperson Hamed Abdel Dayem also specifically denied reports that Saudi Arabia had warned of a potential ban on pomegranate imports from Egypt, telling Al Shorouk that the ministry has not received any official memos or letters from the kingdom.