Egypt’s Chamber of Food Industries Focuses on Transparency, Compliance, and Sustainability in Meat and Poultry Sector
The Chamber of Food Industries in Egypt recently held a meeting with its meat and poultry processing division to address pressing challenges and explore strategies for sectoral improvement. Key discussions centered on enhancing transparency through electronic invoicing, improving compliance with existing regulations, and advancing sustainability initiatives.
Boosting Transparency and Reducing Tax Evasion
One of the primary proposals discussed was mandating electronic invoices for slaughterhouse operations linked to factories. This measure aims to improve accountability, combat tax evasion, and ensure quality standards in slaughtering processes. This initiative, suggested by industry stakeholders, would serve as a step toward formalizing Egypt’s meat and poultry sectors.
The meeting also revisited Egypt’s Poultry Trading Law No. 70 of 2009, which prohibits the sale and slaughter of live poultry in non-regulated environments. The Chamber emphasized the need to enforce compliance with this law to modernize the industry and enhance public health outcomes.
Driving Sustainability Through Innovation
The Chamber showcased its commitment to sustainability through a new initiative led by board member Mohamed El-Shafie. In collaboration with specialized research centers, the initiative focuses on converting food and agricultural processing waste into valuable by-products. This aligns with global trends toward eco-friendly manufacturing and enhances value-added processes in the food production chain.
El-Shafie noted that adopting such practices would reduce pollution, foster sustainable industrial operations, and support the Chamber’s mission to achieve cleaner production processes across the sector.
Strengthening Regulatory Compliance
The Chamber highlighted its ongoing technical and advisory support for stakeholders, particularly in meeting regulatory requirements. Reda Abdel Galil, General Manager of Technical Affairs, detailed various training programs and support services aimed at helping slaughterhouses and factories comply with the National Food Safety Authority’s (NFSA) standards.
These initiatives are part of the Chamber’s broader strategy to ensure food safety and elevate industry standards, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) striving to be listed on the NFSA’s white list.
Collaborative Efforts with Regulatory Bodies
Regular monthly meetings with the NFSA’s Inspection Director provide a platform for addressing compliance concerns and streamlining inspection processes. These sessions have been instrumental in clarifying regulatory requirements and offering solutions to operational challenges faced by industry players.
Additionally, the Chamber has designed training programs tailored to the unique needs of the meat and poultry sector, focusing on food safety, sustainable practices, and operational excellence.
A Vision for Growth and Resilience
Through its focus on transparency, sustainability, and regulatory compliance, the Chamber is positioning Egypt’s meat and poultry industry for long-term growth. By addressing immediate challenges and fostering a forward-thinking approach, it aims to create a resilient, innovative, and compliant food production ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders.
