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EU APPROVES NEW EXPORT SEASON OF
EGYPTIAN POTATOES TO THE EU
In a meeting of the Plant Health Standing Committee in
Brussels, EU Member States gave the go-ahead to the
European Commission to authorise imports of Egyptian
potatoes to the EU for the next year’s export season.
This new Decision, which should formally be adopted by
the European Commission before the end of November, will
open the new potato export season and establish the
provisions under which Egyptian potatoes may be exported
from a list of approved Pest-free Areas in Egypt.
The 2005/2006 export season will start before the end of
this year and will finish in early spring 2006 in
compliance with the EU’s phytosanitary standards and the
trade preferences granted to Egypt under the EU/Egypt
Association Agreement.
Egypt has managed to export increasing quantities of
potatoes to the EU over recent years, reaching a
significant total of 240,000 tonnes during the 2004/2005
season.
The favourable decision in the Plant Health Standing
Committee was taken in the light of the Egyptian
authorities’ commitment to introduce stricter inspection
measures for the 2005/2006 export season.
ENDS
Contact: Germaine Demian
Press and Information Officer
Delegation of the European Commission in Egypt
Tel:3749 46 80
germaine.demian@cec.eu.int |