1 Egypt Country Profile

Generic Information

Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia by a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt is a Mediterranean country bordered by the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Gulf of Aqaba to the east, the Red Sea to the east and south, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west. Across the Gulf of Aqaba lies Jordan, and across from the Sinai Peninsula lies Saudi Arabia, although Jordan and Saudi Arabia do not share a land border with Egypt. It is the world's only contiguous Eurafrican nation.

Egypt is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Middle East with most of its people living near the banks of the River Nile.

Further generic information and information on money parity and inflation can be found in the following document: Egypt Country Profile Additional Information.docx

Further generic links:

Wikipedia Website of Egypt

Website of the IMF on Egypt

Website of the Economist Intelligence Unit on Egypt

(*note - this is a paid service)

Humanitarian Info

World Food Programme - Egypt

Facts and Figures

Wolframalpha - Egypt

Worldbank - Egypt

World Population Review - Egypt

1.1 Egypt Humanitarian Background

Disasters, Conflicts and Migration
Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities
Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response
- Government
- Humanitarian Community

Disasters, Conflicts and Migration

Natural Disasters
Type	Occurs	Comments / Details
Drought	Yes	Rare droughts hit the country.
Earthquakes	Yes	Seismic hazard in Egypt is highest at the southern end of the Gulf of Suez, the northern Red Sea and around the Gulf of Aqaba, the location of the active plate boundaries. The highest risk is the southern end of the Dead Sea Transform. 1992: A 5.8 magnitude quake occurred at 15:09 pm on 12 October, with an epicentre near Dahshur, 35 km south of Cairo. The quake was unusually destructive for its size, causing 545 deaths, injuring 6,512 and making 50,000 people homeless. It was the most damaging event to affect Cairo since 1847 (Source: Wikipedia) · 1995: A 7.1 magnitude earthquake that occurred on 22 November at 04:15 am, in the eastern part of Egypt. At least 8 people were killed and 30 were injured in the epicentre region. Damage occurred across much of north-eastern Egypt as far away as Cairo.
Epidemics	Yes	Very rare, however the most repeated epidemic is cholera as it occurred in 1831 / 1847-1848 / 1865 / 1881 / 1902 /1947.
Extreme Temperatures	Yes	An extremely hot, dry and dusty wind blows from the south or the southwest. This wind is called khamasīn. When the flow of dry air continuously blows over vast desert regions, it picks up fine sand and dust particles and finally results in a dusty wind which is generally felt in the periphery of the desert. When this wind blows over Egypt, it causes high temperatures to soar temporarily at dangerous levels, usually over 45 °C (113 °F), the relative humidity levels to drop under 5%. The khamasīn causes sudden, early heat waves and the absolute highest temperature records in Egypt.
Flooding	Yes	Nile floods have been contained since 1970 upon the completion of the High Dam at Aswan. Flash floods however are caused by high intensity short-duration storms and are primarily dominated by overland flow rainstorms in Sinai.
Insect Infestation	No	N/A
Mudslides	No	N/A
Volcanic Eruptions	No	N/A
High Waves / Surges	Yes	Since 1995 there have been three tsunamis recorded in the Mediterranean Sea with waves exceeding 2m in height.
Wildfires	No	N/A
High Winds	Yes	Al khamseen wind: when the flow of dry air continuously blows over vast desert regions, it picks up fine sand and dust particles and finally results in a dusty wind which is generally felt in the periphery of the desert. When this wind blows over Egypt, it causes high temperatures to soar temporarily at dangerous levels, usually over 45 °C (113 °F), the relative humidity levels to drop under 5%. The khamasīn causes sudden, early heat waves and the absolute highest temperature records in Egypt.
Man-Made Issues
Refugees Present	Yes	Per a UNHCR statistical report (July 2019 rollout) the total number of refugees has reached 249,709 POC, out of which 131,433* are Syrians and 118,276 from other nationalities.  *All Syrians who approached UNHCR Egypt after 2011 are registered as asylum seekers and do not undergo refugee status determination but are considered as Refugees

For a more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters Country Profile.

Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities

Seasonal Effects on Transport
Transport Type	Time Frame	Comments / Details
Primary Road Transport	From December to February	During the rainy season roads can get blocked, especially in the north coast, the Sinai province, the Red Sea governorate and in the South, where intercity and highways become affected by floods.
Secondary Road Transport	From December to February	Blocks may occur, especially when there are floods and/or when secondary roads/small bridges are washed away. This may disrupt the movement of personnel and agricultural products, causing inflation in the local market for certain products.
Rail Transport	From December to February	More reliable during rainy seasons. However, still affected by floods, low visibility levels, and sand storms, causing suspension of services ranging from hours to days.
Air Transport	From March to June	Sand storms, mists and fog decrease the visibility and affect navigation systems' capacity, causing temporary closure of airport activities for hours/days.
Waterway Transport	From December to February	Heavy rain, storm and wind could disrupt the marine vessels movements, causing temporary closure of ports' activities for hours/ days.

Seasonal Effects on Storage and Handling
Activity Type	Time Frame	Comments / Details
Storage	From December to February From May to August	Rain, moist, wind floods, sand storms usually disrupt the warehousing activities, causing temporary closure of activities for days. Heat and humidity: in Upper Egypt’s locations the heat goes up to exceed 50 degrees Celsius and humidity to 70% which effects the non-climate controlled warehouses, also affecting the quality of stored goods, especially food and sensitive items.
Handling	All over the year	During harvest/tourist seasons the demand of manpower increases.

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

Government

Egypt has sufficient capacity in terms of man power and infrastructure to respond to emergencies. 

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Egypt Government Contact List

Humanitarian Community

For more information on humanitarian agency contact details, please see the following link: 4.2 Egypt Humanitarian Agency Contact List

1.2 Egypt Regulatory Departments & Quality Control

EOS (Egyptian Organization for Standards & Quality) is considered the competent body in Egypt responsible for granting quality and conformity marks as well as conformity certificates for industrial commodities and products according to the Egyptian and foreign standards. The General Department for Quality is considered the consulting department for establishments, industrial companies and bodies in the fields of industrial quality control and quality assurance and environmental management

The main tasks of the EOS are as follows:

Providing the appropriate means to achieve the conformity of raw materials, industrial commodities and products to the approved standards including technical researches, studies, controlling and technical inspection, drawing samples and testing them, evaluating the testing results and issuing conformity certificates for the approved standards and the required marks;
Granting quality marks for the local industrial products to be conformed to Egyptian standards;
EOS is Egypt communication and enquiry point concerned with providing and exchanging information related to conformity assessment procedures on the national, regional and international levels;
Providing technical consultations for industrial establishments, companies and bodies in the fields of industrial quality control, quality assurance and environmental management systems;
Verifying the accuracy of measurement and testing instruments used in industrial units in all sectors;
Training technicians in concerned bodies on the relevant quality and standards activities, as well as holding relevant local and international conferences;
Representing Egypt in the international and regional organizations concerned with standards, following up their activities and coordinating quality activities in Egypt with their corresponding abroad;
Inspecting products applying for conformity certificates;
Issuing periodicals and brochures concerned with EOS activities in the field of quality control;
Representing Egypt in the international and regional organizations concerned with standards, quality, measurements and metrology;
Developing and issuing Egyptian standards;
Granting license for quality mark and conformity certificate for the Egyptian products in various fields;
Providing technical consultancy and support in the field of standards and quality;
Calibrating measurement and testing equipment for companies and industrial establishments;
Testing and inspection of products;
Providing info for the concerned bodies on field of standards, quality, measurements and metrology
Providing training courses for technicians working in competent authorities and other concerned bodies relevant to standardization, quality, inspection, testing, measuring and calibration activities;
Qualifying establishments for applying quality, environment and safety systems;
Undertaking the responsibility of the enquiry point for Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement (TBT);
Participating in the activities of international standards issued by ISO;
Participating in the work of CODEX Alimentarious Committee;
Implementing the activities of quality management systems and environmental management systems and consumers' issues corresponding to ISO committees;
Carrying out the activities of the national COPOLCO Committee;
Issuing the unified Arab standards in cooperation with the Arab Industrial, Development and Mining Organization (AIDMO); and
Participating in the activities of African Regional Organization for Standardization (ARSO).

The General Department for Quality undertakes the following activities:

Inspecting products licensed for quality mark;
Inspecting products applying for quality mark licence;
Inspecting safety and security products in the field of engineering industries to obtain conformity mark;
Inspecting products applying for their prototype adoption;
Inspecting the required technical studies for licensing boilers;
Inspecting trucks;
Evaluating the reports of (engineering, chemical, food products, textile) labs submitted to the department;
Providing technical consultancy for companies and organizations.

Address:	16 Tadreeb El- Modarrebeen st., Ameriya, Cairo
Web Site:	www.eos.org.eg
Consumer Site:	www.eos.org.eg
E-mail:	moi@idsc.net.eg
TEL:	+202 2284 5524, +202 2284 5522
Fax:	+202 2284 5501
President Tel:	+202 2284 5529, +202 2284 5528
President Fax:	+202 2284 5504
Central Department Director Tel:	+20 2284 5526
Customer service:	+202 2284 5503
Consumer protection:	+202 2284 5500
Information Centre Tel /fax:	+202 2284 5533
E-mail:	eositc@eos.org.eg
General Department for Quality:	+202 2284 5520
General Department for Standards:	+202 2284 5507
General Department for Measurements:	+202 2284 5506
General Department for Technical Relations:	+202 2284 5508
Food labs:	+202 2284 5521
Marketing:	+202 2284 5521
Samples:	+202 2284 5503
Textile labs:	+202 2284 5517
Chemical labs:	+202 2284 5514
Engineering labs:	+202 2284 5512
Metrology:	+202 2284 5523
Purchases:	+202 2284 5519

For further information on the National Regulatory Departments contacts identified in the contact list above, please select the following document: http://www.egypt.gov.eg/english/guide/directory.aspx

For more information on regulatory departments and quality control laboratories' contact details, please see the following links:

4.1 Egypt Government Contact List

4.3 Egypt Laboratory and Quality Testing Companies Contact List

1.3 Egypt Customs Information

Duties and Tax Exemption
Emergency Response
Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response): 
Customs Clearance
- General Information
- Customs Clearance Document Requirements (by commodity)
Transit Regime

Duties and Tax Exemption

For contact information regarding government customs authorities, please see the following link: 4.1 Egypt Government Contact List

Emergency Response

Agreements / Conventions Description	Ratified by Country? (Yes / No)
WCO (World Customs Organization) member	Yes, 26-10-1956
Annex J-5 Revised Kyoto Convention	Yes, 26 June 1999
OCHA Model Agreement	Yes, October 2011
Tampere Convention (on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations)	No
Regional Agreements (on emergency/disaster response, but also customs unions, regional integration)	http://www.mfa.gov.eg/English/ministry/library/treaties/Pages/default.aspx Environment Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal Convention on Biological Diversity Health WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Human Rights Convention on The Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women Convention on The Political Rights of Women Convention on The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Convention on the Rights of the Child Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide UN Conference of Plenipotentiaries on A Supplementary Convention on The Abolition of Slavery, The Slave Trade, Institutions, Practices Similar to Slavery International Convention on The Protection of The Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination Universal Declaration of Human Rights Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child prostitution and Child Pornography  Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Privileges and immunities Vienna Convention Consular Relations, Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations The UN Charter UN Charter and Statute of the International Court of Justice Egypt and Arab League Treaties between Egypt and Arab League

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response): 

Duties and Taxes Exemption Certificate Document Requirements (by commodity)

Food

NFI

(Shelter,

WASH,

Education)

Medicines

Vehicles

Spare Parts

Staff

& Office

Supplies

Telecoms Equipment

Invoice

If not under LC* then only 1 original legalized Commercial

Invoice +2 copies “Legalized by foreign affairs of COD** and Egypt embassy at COD”

If not under LC* then only 1 original legalized Commercial

Invoice +2 copies “Legalized by foreign affairs of COD** and Egypt embassy at COD”.

If not under LC* then only 1 original legalized Commercial

Invoice +2 copies “Legalized by foreign affairs of COD** and Egypt embassy at COD”.

If not under LC* then only 1 original legalized Commercial

Invoice +2 copies “Legalized by foreign affairs of COD** and Egypt embassy at COD”

If not under LC* then only 1 original legalized Commercial

Invoice +2 copies “Legalized by foreign affairs of COD** and Egypt embassy at COD”

If not under LC* then only 1 original legalized Commercial

Invoice +2 copies “Legalized by foreign affairs of COD** and Egypt embassy at COD”

AWB/BL/Other Transport

Documents

Unless under LC the normal importation requires: 3 non-negotiable original B/L is mode of transport is by sea Or 1 original AWB / Truck waybill

Express resale / release telex is also acceptable

Unless under LC the normal importation requires: 3 non-negotiable original B/L is mode of transport is by sea Or 1 original AWB / Truck waybill

Express resale / release telex is also acceptable

Unless under LC the normal importation requires: 3 non-negotiable original B/L is mode of transport is by sea Or 1 original AWB / Truck waybill

Express resale / release telex is also acceptable

Unless under LC the normal importation requires: 3 non-negotiable original B/L is mode of transport is by sea Or 1 original AWB / Truck waybill

Express resale / release telex is also acceptable

Unless under LC the normal importation requires: 3 non-negotiable original B/L is mode of transport is by sea Or 1 original AWB / Truck waybill

Express resale / release telex is also acceptable

Unless under LC the normal importation requires: 3 non-negotiable original B/L is mode of transport is by sea Or 1 original AWB / Truck waybill

Express resale / release telex is also acceptable

Donation/Non-Commercial

Certificates

Certificate of Origin- 2 copies

+ original document which must be approved by Egyptian consulate in COD

Certificate of Origin- 2 copies

+ original document which must be approved by Egyptian consulate in COD

Certificate of Origin- 2 copies

+ original document which must be approved by Egyptian consulate in COD

Certificate of Origin- 2 copies

+ original document which must be approved by Egyptian consulate in COD

Certificate of Origin- 2 copies

+ original document which must be approved by Egyptian consulate in COD

Certificate of Origin- 2 copies

+ original document which must be approved by Egyptian consulate in COD

Packing Lists

Detailed PL is Recommended

Other Documents

Certificate of origin

- ProForma

Invoice(if Under LC )

- Delivery order from shipping line agent / airport operator

- Health certificates

- Test certificate

- Specification certificate

- Radiation certificate

- Fumigation certificates

- Conformity certificate

- Content

Analysis

(required for products which undergo standards testing)

Based on the type of commodity

Certificate of origin

- ProForma

Invoice(if Under LC )

- Delivery order from shipping line agent / airport operator

- Health certificates

- Test certificate

- Specification certificate

- Radiation certificate

- Fumigation certificates

- Conformity certificate

- Content

Analysis

(required for products which undergo standards testing)

Based on the type of commodity

Certificate of origin

- ProForma

Invoice(if Under LC )

- Delivery order from shipping line agent / airport operator

- Health certificates

- Test certificate

- Specification certificate

- Radiation certificate

- Fumigation certificates

- Conformity certificate

- Content

Analysis

(required for products which undergo standards testing)

Based on the type of commodity

Certificate of origin

- ProForma

Invoice(if Under LC )

- Delivery order from shipping line agent / airport operator

- Health certificates

- Test certificate

- Specification certificate

- Radiation certificate

- Fumigation certificates

- Conformity certificate

- Content

Analysis

(required for products which undergo standards testing)

Based on the type of commodity

Certificate of origin

- ProForma

Invoice(if Under LC )

- Delivery order from shipping line agent / airport operator

- Health certificates

- Test certificate

- Specification certificate

- Radiation certificate

- Fumigation certificates

- Conformity certificate

- Content

Analysis

(required for products which undergo standards testing)

Based on the type of commodity

Certificate of origin

- ProForma

Invoice(if Under LC )

- Delivery order from shipping line agent / airport operator

- Health certificates

- Test certificate

- Specification certificate

- Radiation certificate

- Fumigation certificates

- Conformity certificate

- Content

Analysis

(required for products which undergo standards testing)

Based on the type of commodity

Additional Notes:

For further information on the document requirements stated above, please see the following document: Egypt Customs Information

*LC : letter of credit

COD : Country of Dispatch

Customs Clearance

General Information

Customs Information
Document Requirements	· Passport (original) · Work Permit (original) or application documents · Customs Bond · Letter of Guarantee or Power of Attorney · Residence Visa · Inventory - showing number of pieces, cartons and precise contents of each · Keys for any locked items · Letter from Employer to Customs stating duration of Customer's stay and financial guarantees · Certificate of Residence Change · Delivery address and telephone number
Embargoes	Israeli Products importations / exportations
Prohibited Items	Pornographic material · Drugs · Fireworks , Firearms and weapons, ammunition, daggers and swords · Anti-Islamic religious materials · Gold and silver (tableware permitted) · Cordless telephones · Resolution colour printers or photocopiers
General Restrictions	GMO food

Customs Clearance Document Requirements (by commodity)

Food

NFI

(Shelter,

WASH,

Education)

Medicines

Vehicles

Spare Parts

Staff

& Office

Supplies

Telecoms Equipment

D&T Exemption

Certificate

n/a

Invoice

Original Invoice, applies

for UN and

NGOs

Original Invoice, applies

for UN and

NGOs

Original Invoice, applies

for UN and

NGOs

Original Invoice, applies

for UN and

NGOs

Original Invoice, applies

for UN and

NGOs

Original Invoice, applies

for UN and

NGOs

AWB/BL/Other Transport

Documents