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Imports
into Egypt
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New
Import/Export regulation
Ministerial Decree No. 770/2005 issued by the MoFTI
on 25/10/2005 regulating Import-, Export- as well as
Inspection and Control Procedures. The aim of this
new regulation is to simplify procedures and reduce
trade barriers.
Major changes:
The new import/export regulation completely replaces
Ministerial Decree 275/1991 and all of its
amendments and interpretations with a new,
transparent, and liberalized set of rules to
facilitate trade. It revokes all previous
legislation on the matter.
Another major achievement of the new regulation is
the strengthening of IPR (Chapter 9, Art.27ff):
Border measures for the protection against the
importation of IPR infringing goods. The owner of
IPR can file a compliant to the Customs Authorities
who then have to investigate. This concerns rights
of copyright holders, trademarks, geographic
identification, industrial designs, patents,
integrated circuit, lay-out design.
GOIEC’s functions are reconfirmed, but could not be
further extended to other fields f.ex. (agric.,
health). GOEIC shall establish a list of all
importers and exporters to keep track of all actions
and misbehaving. All importers shall have an
importers entry card issued by GOEIC.
Concerning labeling, the regulation states that
textiles must be labeled with the name of producer,
country of origin, fabric type, % of blend, name of
importer.
Other important achievements:
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Reduction in the number of
imported goods subject to inspection by GOEIC;
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Permitting importers to
provide their own certificates of conformity
from any internationally accredited laboratory
inside or outside of Egypt for those goods still
subject to inspection by GOEIC;
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Exclusion from inspection of
imported goods manufactured in accordance with
internationally recognized quality marks such as
the CE-mark;
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Elimination of the
requirement that perishable products have at
least half of their shelf-life remaining at the
time of import (further legislation necessary)
Article 6 and Annex 1 suspends
the importation of certain products among them
pesticides and chemicals and lists them. Article 7:
all imported goods shall be internationally bar
coded. Annex 2 lists used products that can be
imported into Egypt under certain conditions, among
them production machines, equipment and spare parts.
Annex 3 lists goods imported as per special
conditions: Passenger cars can thus be imported
without restriction of origin during the first year
after production, provided they are not used.
Further to this regulation, a number of implementing
decrees will need to be drafted now (in particular
on IPR border control, recognition of international
conformity assessment reports and quality marks, and
traceability of food and agricultural products). The
Ministry will also do training and a public
awareness campaign for the private sector.
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