COVID-2019: Egypt and Jordan suspend import of Chinese food products, Saudi and UAE remain calm
Two countries in the Middle East suspended import of some Chinese food products earlier this year in order to soothe public concerns in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Jordan implemented a temporary import ban on February 2 for all animal and plant-based products from China.
Karim Al-Hussami, director of licensing at Jordanian Agriculture Ministry said in a media statement: “Import licenses from China have been suspended until further notice. This will be reviewed in the coming period when things stabilise.”
In Egypt, the Vegetables and Fruits Division of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce officially announced on February 9 that imports of garlic, carrot and green ginger from China would be temporarily suspended.
Earlier on February 2, Egypt Today reported that several Egyptian importers had already suspended signing deals to import Chinese garlic due to COVID-2019 before the official announcement.
The head of the vegetables and fruits division at the Chamber of Commerce, Hatem Naguib had soothed worries from consumers about the current supply of garlic in the country. He affirmed that Chinese garlic circulating in the Egyptian market is safe as it had entered the country before the rise of the virus and was subjected to screening by the General Organization For Export and Import Control.
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