Egypt announced it won’t allow any agricultural import or export of genetically modified foods, especially wheat, corn and soya beans.

“It is necessary that all crops imported from abroad and exported from Egypt are accompanied by a certificate from the Country of origin stating they are free of genetically modified materials”: these are the instruction given by Agriculture Minister Amin Abaza and reported by news agency MENA repored at mid August-

The move arose much surprise since last year Egypt had approved the cultivation of genetically modified corn. Furthermore, some of main Egypt’s food imports at the moment included genetically modified products.

The decision was taken after some Russian wheat was rejected for quality reasons, a political debate started in Egypt over food quality and safety. Members of parliament began to claim not only for stricter rules but even for greater agricultural self sufficiency.

Abaza seemed to have prohibited “the entry of any imports, especially wheat, corn and soya beans until samples of the cargo have been examined...in the absence of a certificate”.

Egypt is the most populous Arab country and one of the world’s largest wheat importers.