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Export Requirements for Egypt

EG-21 (May 28, 2008)

Asterisks (*) indicate the most recent revision to these requirements. To search, click on your browser's "Edit" menu, then click on "Find (on this page)". Enter "*" in the "Find What" field, then click "Find" or "Find Next" until all asterisks have been identified.


Eligible/Ineligible Products
  1. Eligible Products
    1. Fresh/frozen red meat and red meat products; however, at this time bovine meat products are limited to the following: chilled or frozen boneless beef, including beef livers, kidneys and hearts from animals less than 30 months of age produced under an Export Verification (EV) program. Information about the EV program for Egypt and a list of EV approved establishments can be obtained from AMS' Web site.

      If FSIS inspection personnel become aware of concerns that an AMS approved EV establishment is not properly executing its EV program, export certification should not be issued for the product in question and AMS should be notified at ARCBranch@usda.gov. Inspection personnel should include their immediate supervisor on messages to AMS. The following information should be included in the message:
      • Establishment name, address, and establishment number.
      • Product type, product code, and quantity of product.
      • Date of production, lot number, and shift.
      • Date and nature of observation.
      • Name of country product is intended for export.
      • Export certificate number (if applicable).
      • Any other information to verify claim.
      • Name of inspection official.
  2. Ineligible Products
    1. Poultry and poultry products.
    2. Horse intestines - export certification cannot be provided at this time.

Labeling Requirements
  1. All Products - Storage temperature must be placed with the refrigeration statement on the boxes to fully clarify the type of product being handled. (Examples: "KEEP FROZEN - STORE AT OR BELOW ____degrees C.; KEEP CHILLED (OR REFRIGERATE) - STORE BETWEEN ____degrees C. and ____degrees C.")
  2. Fresh/Frozen and Canned Meat and Poultry - In addition to the labeling features mandatory in the United States, precut and packaged meat and poultry must bear the following features (in print):
    1. Production (slaughtering or freezing) and expiration dates - Spell out or abbreviate name of month (Example: JAN or JANUARY 1985). The expiration date is calculated from the date the product was first frozen. Calendar strips preprinted on label allowing the designation of calendar dates with literal translation are in frequent use.
    2. Metric Net Weight - Lettering and numbers for unit metric weight must be in Arabic.
    3. Bilingual Labels. All labels must be in Arabic and English.
  3. Additional Requirements - Country of origin, producer's name, name of the slaughter plant, date of production, importer's name and address, and the name of the approved Islamic organization must be printed in Arabic on a label inserted inside the bag or wrapping for fresh/frozen products.

Documentation Requirements
  1. Obtain FSIS Form 9060-5. All FSIS Form 9060-5 certificates must be dated and have the signature and title of an FSIS veterinarian.
  2. Special Characteristics of Product Certification. Exporters wishing to certify special characteristics of a product (such as types of pack or cut, weight range of product, quality, etc.), to satisfy supplier-purchaser agreements or specifications, may obtain such certification on a reimbursable basis from the grading services of the Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  3. For boneless beef, including beef livers, kidneys and hearts. In completing the FSIS Form 9060-6, Application for Export, the following statement must be included: “The product meets EV requirements for Egypt.” Obtain FSIS Form 9060-5, Meat and Poultry Export Certificate of Wholesomeness. A letterhead certificate must accompany the FSIS Form 9060-5 or the following statements must be included in the “Remarks” section:*
    1. The product was obtained from animals of less than thirty (30) months of age.
    2. The product was derived from animals born in the United States or from animals legally imported from Canada and/or Mexico.
    3. The product was obtained from animals originating from farms or areas which were not under Federal quarantine for infectious or contagious diseases.
    4. The product contains no specified risk materials including brain, skull, eyes, trigeminal ganglia, spinal cord, tonsils, intestines, vertebral column, and dorsal root ganglia.
    5. That in the country of origin of the product there exist animal health regulations in force that prohibit the feeding of ruminants with meat and bone meal or greaves of ruminant origin.

    In addition, the following conditions must be met:
    1. The shipment must be accompanied by a Certificate of Islamic Slaughter from a member of an Islamic Center or Islamic organization. In addition, the certificate must be endorsed by the Arabian-American Chamber of Commerce of by an Egyptian Consulate.  Please refer to the section entitled "Information Regarding Halal Certification."
    2. The meat must originate from an establishment that is registered and approved by the "General Organization for Veterinary Services." Currently, the plants approved for export to Egypt are listed in the Export Library.

Handling/Storage Requirements

Egypt requires that instructions for consumers concerning storage, preparation and other special handling requirements accompany all shipments.

Other Requirements
  1. Ship Stores - Port Said is a free port. All U.S. product would be eligible for ship stores for any flagship.
  2. Egypt Import Inspection - Random laboratory samples for Salmonella are collected on meat and poultry product entering Egypt. Results of product testing by the country of origin, prior to shipment, will not be honored by Egypt.
    1. Beef (including beef livers) is accepted when 10 percent or less of the samples are positive.
    2. Poultry is accepted when 20 percent or less of the samples are positive.
    3. Exception to permissible levels of Salmonella. If the type of Salmonella identified is S. typhi, U.S. paratyphi A, B, and C, or S. cholera suis, the shipment will be held pending a decision by the Ministry of Health.
  3. Expiration Period.
    1. The expiration period for frozen beef livers, kidneys, and hearts is seven (7) months from the date of production. The expiration period for frozen boneless beef is twelve (12) months from the date of production. In addition:
      1. Products with shelf life of twelve (12) months or more must arrive at Egyptian ports with three (3) months remaining shelf life.
      2. Products with more than six (6) months and less than twelve (12) months shelf life must arrive at Egyptian ports with three (3) months remaining shelf life.
      3. Products with three (3) to six (6) months shelf life must arrive at Egyptian ports with one (1) month remaining shelf life.
      4. Products with one (1) to three (3) months shelf life must arrive at Egyptian ports with fifteen (15) days remaining shelf life.
    2. When a frozen poultry sample is thawed, the amount of water collected must not exceed 5 percent.
    3. Fat content of red meat

      The requirement that the fat content of products for direct consumption must be no more than 7 percent has been rescinded. Fat content of red meat for processing must be no more than 20 percent.

Plants Eligible to Export
  1. Boneless beef and beef livers, kidneys, and hearts must originate from an establishment on the Eligible Plant List for Egypt. In addition, these Egyptian approved establishments must be on the list of AMS EV approved establishments for Egypt.
  2. All other products -all federally inspected establishments are eligible to export to Egypt.

Information Regarding Halal Certification

The following is presented as information for the exporter. FSIS is not responsible for certifying that products intended for export to Muslim countries meet appropriate requirements for religious slaughter. Procedures for export certification do not include agency oversight of the Halal process or review of the authenticity of the Halal certificate.

Ritual Slaughter - Islamic Slaughter Certification.

The exporter must obtain a Certificate of Islamic Slaughter from a member of an Islamic Center or Islamic organization. A Certificate of Islamic Slaughter is a certificate issued by a member of a Moslem organization recognized by the importing country to provide this service; the certificate states that animals were slaughtered according to Moslem religious requirements. This certificate must accompany products labeled "Halal." The certificate must be endorsed by the Arabian-American Chamber of Commerce or by an Egyptian Consulate and must accompany all shipments. The addresses and telephone numbers of the Arabian-American Chambers of Commerce are listed below. The list of Egyptian approved Islamic Centers is included in the Approved Plant List.

Halal Labeling

Halal certified product must be labeled with statement that product has been slaughtered according to Islamic principles (Halal labeling is an exporter and Halal organization responsibility.
  1. On fresh/frozen unprocessed product - Product bearing "Halal" label claims must be accompanied by an appropriate Halal certificate.
  2. On processed products with "Halal" label claims - Raw materials used in processed products with "Halal" label claims must be accompanied by an appropriate Halal certificate.

Arabian-American Chambers of Commerce
  1. NATIONAL U.S.-ARAB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
    1100 New York Ave NW, E. Tower, Suite 550
    Washington, D.C. 20005
    (202) 289-5920
    FAX (202) 289-5938
  2. MIDAMERICA-ARAB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
    208 S. Lasalle St., Suite 706
    Chicago, Illinois 60604
    (312) 782-0320
    FAX (312) 782-7379
  3. NEW YORK -ARAB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
    420 Lexington Ave., Suite 2739
    New York, NY 10170
    (212) 986-8024
    (212) 986-0216
  4. HOUSTON - ARAB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
    1330 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 1600
    Houston, TX 77056
    (713) 963-4620
    (713) 963-4609
  5. The Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt
    2310 Decatur Place, NW
    Washington, DC 20008
    (202) 895-5400
    Economic and Commercial Sector (202) 265-9111

EG-21 (May 28, 2008)
United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service