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    Remaining Shelf Life for Imported Food Products - Egypt
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    Remaining Shelf Life for Imported Food Products - Egypt

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    Remaining Shelf Life for Imported Food Products
    Egypt

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    Version Number
    Content Creation Date
    		Publishing DateSection(s) Updated & Reason(s) for Update
    V0
    2 Nov 2023
    		23 Oct 2024N/A (new report)
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    1.  Minimum shelf life remaining when food products arrive in the destination country

    Key authorities relevant to the shelf life and clearance process:

    • Egyptian National Food Safety Authority
    • Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI):
      • The General Organization of Export and Import Control (GOEIC) 
      • The Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS)

    According to Ministry of Trade and Industry decree 285/ 2006 [1], the product must arrive at the port of entry with the following periods remaining of its established shelf life, otherwise, the consignment will be rejected: 

    • 3 months minimum for products that have a shelf life of more than 6 months.
    • One month minimum for the products that have a shelf life of 3-6 months. 
    • One week minimum for the products that have a shelf life of less than 3 months. 
    • 3 days minimum for the products that have a shelf life of up to 10 days. 

    Fig 1: Article 3 of Ministry of Trade and Industry decree 285/ 2006 [1]

    2.  Minimum shelf life remaining when sold in the country

    The Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS) issued its standard ES 2613-2/2008 Shelf Life for Food Products- Part 2: Shelf Life [2] specifying shelf life for the food products (fish and its products, dairy products, meat and its products, and other food products namely: salt, yeast, margarine, mineral and natural water, soft drinks, and vegetable seed oils). 

    Additionally, Standard ES 2613-1/2008 Shelf Life for Food Products - Part 1: General Requirements [3] sets out relevant definitions and labeling requirements for dates.

    There is no legal requirement setting a minimum shelf life when the product is sold.

    3.  Food industry guidelines/best practice 

    There are no industry guidelines on minimum shelf life required for products sold. Retailers decide on a case-by-case basis based on their internal policies or contracts with manufacturers, nature of the product, etc. as to when to remove products from shelf, and as long as it is before the expiration date.    

    Conclusion
      1. In Egypt, a product must arrive at the port of entry with the following periods remaining of its established shelf life, otherwise the consignment will be rejected: 
        • 3 months minimum for products that have shelf life of more than 6 months. 
        • One month minimum for the products that have shelf life of 3-6 months. 
        • One week minimum for the products that have shelf life of less than 3 months. 
        • 3 days minimum for the products that have shelf life up to 10 days. 
      2. There is no legal requirement setting a minimum shelf life when the product is sold, nor is there an industry guideline.

    4. References

    1. Ministry of Trade and Industry decree 285/ 2006

    Please contact our dedicated team at RegASK for the PDF


    2. Egyptian Standard 2613-2/2008 Shelf Life for Food Products- Part 2: Shelf Life  

    https://www.eos.org.eg/en/standard/8547


    3. Egyptian Standard 2613-1/2008 Shelf Life for Food Products- Part 1: General Requirements

    https://www.eos.org.eg/en/standard/2321



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