Promoting Industrial Growth and Encouraging Foreign Direct Investment in Egypt
Import Control
- While Ministerial Decree No. 43 of 2016, which amended the rules governing the registration qualified foreign manufacturers prior to exporting their products to Egypt, is aligned with international agreements and the World Trade Organization rules, yet, there are a number of issues with the implementation mechanisms of the decree. For example, Section 1 of Article 2 of the Decree mandates that factories interested in registering must provide, among other documentations, “….. A certificate confirming that the manufacturer has a quality control system, issued by a body recognized by the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) or the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), or by an Egyptian or foreign governmental entity approved by the minister responsible for foreign trade.”
- Yet, to date, several companies that have been met the requirements set out in the decree remain unregistered, including a number of companies that adhere to high quality standards in their internal operations, and which enjoy a stellar international reputation.
Responsible Entities
Date 1/21/2019
- Reconsider the implementation mechanisms of Ministerial Decree No. 43 of 2016, which was intended to serve as an interim measure prior to the decision to float the Egyptian pound).
- Ensure the correct application of the quality system-related provisions of the concerned Ministerial decree; providing a certificate from an approved accreditation body should suffice, there is no need to require the submission of the certification of quality.
- Allow companies, which fulfill the prescribed conditions and procedures of registration, to be directly registered by the General Authority of Export and Import Control, without the need for a ministerial decree to effect the registration.
- Publish the list of companies that meet the quality system requirements in the Egyptian Gazette.
- Consider developing a whitelist of international companies, across all sectors, which enjoy a strong reputation; allow these companies to be automatically registered.
Responsible Entities
Date 1/21/2019
- In January 2019, Decree No. 44 of 2019 was issued expanding the list of goods included in Ministerial Decree No. 43 of 2016. The expanded list included bags/suitcases; items for packaging and transporting goods (e.g., containers, boxes, bags, and similar products); shaving and hair care appliances, and telephones.
Responsible Entities
Date 9/26/2022