May 22, 2009
Russia says grain seized in Egypt is up to standard
The Russian federal food quality watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, issued a statement late Wednesday (May 20) saying it was convinced Russian grain seized by Egyptian authorities was of good quality.
A 52,000-tonne shipment of Russian wheat being delivered to Egypt's state-owned General Authority for Supply Commodities, or GASC, was seized over the past few days by Egyptian authorities on health concerns at the port of Safaga.
There are also reports that two further ships carrying Russian grain have been quarantined by Egyptian inspectors.
Rosselkhoznadzor said a laboratory analysis of samples of the grain exported to Egypt had shown that it fully corresponded to the requirements of Russian standards, as well as to the requirements of the contracts under which the grain was exported.
Rosselkhoznadzor also said it had received no official notification from relevant Egyptian government agencies about the seizure of the grain or any complaints and queries concerning its quality.
Rosselkhoznadzor said considering the gravity of the issue, it had carried out an inspection which had shown that all the phytosanitary procedures and analysis of the quality and safety of the grain shipped to Egypt had been conducted in full accordance with the existing legislation.
