Ministerial Decree No. 1202/2018 (September 12, 2018) amends the previous decree in terms of pest tolerance levels, adds and removes certain pests from the quarantine list. Egypt notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) on October 9, 2018, of its new “Import Phytosanitary Requirements of Seed Potatoes”.
Egypt is a major exporter ware potatoes; the country largely relies on seed potato imports for domestic production. Imports commence in September and run through November. Based on industry estimates, U.S. seed potato exports could reach $15 million annually, once market access issues are resolved.
Egypt is largely dependent on seed potato imports for its domestic potato production. Imports in calendar year (CY) 2018 (January-October) reach roughly 120,000 metric tons (MT). Imports originate mainly from the European Union (EU): the Netherlands (40,500 MT or 33.6 percent), United Kingdom/Scotland (40,400 MT or 33.5 percent), and France (18,900 MT or 16 percent). Imports commence in September and run through November. Local seed potato production occurs during the summer season.
In Egypt, the agricultural year is divided into three planting seasons; summer (February to May), nili (July to August), and winter (September to November). Ware potato plantings commence toward the end of the nili season. The winter season cultivation commences in November and runs through January. Production occurs throughout the country, but is largely concentrated in Behaira, Monefya and Menya governorates.
Seed potato imports must comply with Egypt’s phytosanitary import regulations. A ministerial decree issued annually indicates the technical specifications. Ministerial Decree No. 1202/2018 (issued on September 12, 2018), amends the previous decree in terms of pest tolerance levels, adds and removes certain pests from the quarantine list (see Appendix I). Egypt notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) on October 9, 2018, of its new “Import Phytosanitary Requirements of Seed Potatoes”
Based on industry estimates, U.S. seed potato exports to Egypt could reach $15 million annually once market access issues are resolved. U.S.-origin varieties competing with those of EU suppliers would be price competitive. Egypt’s yearly imports of seed potatoes average $85 million (CY 2015-17).
Egypt’s phytosanitary regulations require laboratory testing against potato brown rot (Ralstonia sloanacearum) and ring rot diseases causal agents in all imports and exports of potato. Egyptian exports of ware potatoes to the Russian Federation, EU, Lebanon, and Jordan are permissible only if produced in Pest Free Areas (PFA), in accordance with the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measure (ISPM 4) of the International Plant Protection Convention.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation has designated the Potato Brown Rot Project (PBRP) as the exclusive entity responsible for PFA establishment, inspection, monitoring and maintenance, as well as for laboratory testing against brown rot disease’s agents.
Egypt is a major exporter of ware potatoes. In calendar year 2018, Egypt has exported over 759,200 MT of ware potatoes. Egypt is the fifth largest exporter for ware potatoes. Supplying primarily the Russian Federation (367,000 MT or 48 percent) and to a lesser extent the EU-18 (190,400 MT or 25 percent) and United Arab Emirates (UAE) (53,100 MT or 7 percent) markets. Presently, the EU is not Egypt’s largest export destination for Egyptian ware potatoes.