G/TFA/N/ EGY/4 
 
3 May 2024 
(24-3547) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
 
NOTIFICATION OF ARRANGEMENTS AND PROGRESS IN THE PROVISION  
OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING  
SUPPORT OF CATEGORY C DESIGNATIONS  
COMMUNICATION FROM EGYPT 
The following communication, dated 22 April 2024,  is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Egypt . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Egypt  hereby notifies information on the arrangements concluded and progress made in the 
provision of technical assistance and capacity building support of the following category C 
designations, pursuant  to Article 16 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 1.1  Publication  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  
Donors:  to be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
The Egyptian relevant agencies have not received  technical assistance or capacity building support  for the 
implementation of Article 1.1.  However,  all laws and ministerial decisions /decrees  are published in the 
Official  Gazette , and the Egyptian border agencies publish trade -related information on their websites  noting 
the varying degree of development and maintenance of those websites . 
 
TACB support needs include:  
 
• Develop ment of the information  and communication infrastructure of the relevant Agencies . 
• Training of staff on the use of the information and communication infrastructure and the international 
best practices in relation to publication.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 1.2  Information Available 
through Internet  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  
Donor s: to be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Egypt was not able to secure technical assistance and capacity building in this respect. However,  each relevant 
agency has a website on which information related to trade is published, yet, the level of development of these 
websites widely varies among  the different  agencies . 
 
TACB support needs include :  
 
• Creation of a single comprehensive trade information portal with advanced Information and 
Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure.  
• Website development and s etting criteria and procedures for collecting, monitoring , processing and 
updating the data.  
• Training of the relevant agencies' staffs.  
• Technical & Financial support for Translation into one of the official languages of the WTO.  
 
 
 This document has been republished to correct minor typographical errors.  G/TFA/N/ EGY/4 
 
- 2 - 
 
  Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 1.3  Enquiry Points  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  
Donors: to be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Egypt has not received any technical assistance or capacity building in this respect. Despite the fact that each 
agency has its own system for handling enquiries on trade -related information in its area of competence,  there 
is no single central TF Enquiry point linking  the existing mechanisms for handling enquiries.  
 
TACB support needs include:  
 
• Development of a TF Enquiry point system  and training of the staff.  
• Establishment of ICT infrastructure and acq uisition of Equip ment.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 1.4  Notification   C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  
Donors:  to be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Progress on notification is pending  the adequate implementation of Articles 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 upon securing the 
adequate technical assistance for the implementation of the said articles.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date fo r 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 3  Advance Rulings  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  
Donors:  USAID  Trade Reform and Development in Egypt ( TRADE ) project in cooperation with Commercial 
Law Development Program (CLDP)  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
The Egyptian Customs Authority  (ECA)  is currently working on the implementation of an "Advance Ruling" 
system  through techn ical assistance provided by the USAID TRADE project  in cooperation with CLDP . 
 
In this context, the necessary legislative reforms for implementation have been drafted  and an "application 
form" for advanced ruling has been designed. It is planned that during 2024 , to finalize a proposal on regarding 
the organizational  restructure to  establish a specialized unit  for advance rulings  with cl ear functions and work 
procedures. T he ECA officials will be trained on drafting advance rulings with respect to origin  and tariff s. 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 5.1  Notification for 
Enhanced Controls or 
Inspections  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  
Donors: To be determined   
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
The Egypt ian authorities  has not received technical assistance and capacity building related  to the 
implementation of Article 5.1. 
 
TACB support needs include:  
 
• Establishment of an electronic system through which the notification s are issued  and disseminated to  
the relevant authorities /agencies at the border .  
• Training of the staff on the issuance of notifications and dealing with such notifications based on the 
appropriate criteria . 
• Providing the  necessary ICT infrastructure for the relevant agencies.  
 G/TFA/N/ EGY/4 
 
- 3 - 
 
  Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 6.1  General Disciplines on Fees 
and Charges Imposed on or 
in Connection with 
Importation and Exportation  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  
Donors:  To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Egypt has not received technical assistance or capacity building support in this respect.  
 
TACB  support needs include:  
 
• Conduct a business process analysis of existing fees and charges on or in Connection with Importation 
and Exportation.  
• Development of the ICT infrastructure for the relevant agencies in order to be able to publish all fees & 
charg es in connection with Importation and Exportation.  
• Training of the concerned staff in all related agencies on publication  and review and the int ernational 
best practices in this respect.   
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.4 Risk Management  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  
Donors:  The World Bank Group (International Finance Corporation (IFC))  - UK funded project ; The Korea 
International Cooperation Agency(KOICA) ; The USDA  – Transforming the assessment and inspection of food 
business (TAIB) project ; The European Union - the Twinning project with the Italian Customs Administration 
& Monopolies  (ADM)  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
The International Finance Corporation (the World Bank Group) – UK funded project  
- In cooperation between the IFC ( the World Bank group) and the NTFC a Risk Management Policy 
Framework has been developed involving all border agencies.  
- The establishment and operation of such an integrated risk management framework has been 
incorporated in the draft National Trade Facilitation Strategy that has also been developed in cooperation 
with the IFC.  
The Korea International C ooperation Agency(KOICA):  
- In cooperation with KOICA, the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) has 
delivered a road map for the implementation requirements for fully integrated automated risk -based 
inspection (RBI) system, and for the conformity assessment procedures (CAP) for non -food 
consignments at the border and beyond the border.  
- The necessary legislative reform for the implementation of such a system has been adopted, Ministerial 
decrees Nos. 283 and 284/2023 were issued to grant  GOEIC the full authority to implement the 
integrated Risk -based Inspection (RBI) with respect to imports of non -food and industrial goods.  
The USDA TAIB project:  
- In cooperation with the National Food Safety Authority of Egypt (NFSA), the TAIB project has provided 
institutional capacity building , training programs for food inspectors and a workshop on TFA provisions 
with a focus on risk management.  
- The project supported NFSA with the implementation of the new risk -based food import control system 
through developing the process for food import licensing and drafting NFSA's food commodity risk list 
that categorizes food based on their potential to harbour harmful pathogens and hazards.  
- The project also provided assistance in developing the strategic plan of NFSA 2023 -2026 which stated 
among its objectives the operationalization of the risk -based approach and developing a food safety 
science capacity to anchor NFSA's decision –making in food risk analysis. The technical support provided 
also aims at promoting N FSA's risk assessment capacity and science evaluation operations supporting 
standard setting, food safety incident management and food monitoring program in support of risk 
assessment.  
The Italian Customs Administration & Monopolies (ADM) - EU funded proje ct: 
- Under the twinning project between the Egyptian Customs Authority (ECA) and the Italian Customs 
Administration & Monopolies - EU funded project, workshops were conducted in relation to risk analysis. 
These workshops included the following activities:  
- Reviewing the EU risk management framework, which is implemented in the Italian Customs.  
- Training the ECA officials on developing their own Business Process Mapping (BPM), creating risk 
profiles and the targeting procedures to enhance the skills in identif ying and combating potential 
risks and identifying the methodology of analyzing required data.  
 
TACB support needs include:  
• Development of risk management systems and their integration at the different border authorities 
including the use of automated risk management and selectivity criteria to be the basis for control 
decisions consistent with international best practices.  
• Development of ICT tools and training of staff.  
 G/TFA/N/ EGY/4 
 
- 4 - 
 
  Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.5  Post clearance audit  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  
Donors: The European Union - the Twinning project with the Italian Customs Administration & Monopolies 
(ADM)  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Under the twinning project, the following activities were conducted:  
 
- The Egyptian Customs Authority ( ECA) auditors were trained on the Post clearance Audit ( PCA) 
methodology and  its stages as per the best international practices in addition to  the method of 
conducting a post clearance audit applied in EU particularly the ADM  
- A Post Clearance Audit (PCA) Handbook has been developed, set ting methodologies and guiding  
principles conducting audits to identify potential irregularities and enforce compliance. The handbook 
has been published on the ECA website.  
 
TACB support needs include:  
 
• Establishment of PCA systems and training of staff.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.6  Establishment and 
Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 31 December 2021  31 March 2023 
Donors: International Finance Corporation (IFC) , World Bank Group – UK funded project  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
- In 2021 , Egypt with the support of the World Bank Group, Egypt undertook its first Time R elease Study 
for imports (TRS) in accordance with the World Customs Organization's (WCO) TRS methodology. The  
TRS was conducted at the Port of Alexandr ia in August 2021 . The second TRS for imports will be 
conducted in 2024.  
- The TRS for exports was conducted in Egypt at the Port of Alexandria in June 2022.  
- This article was fully implemented on 31  March 2023 according to Egypt 's notification 
G/TFA/N/EGY/1/ Add.1 dated  17 Novem ber 2023 a head of the notified definitive  date of 
31 December  2025.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.7  Authorized Economic 
Operator  C 31 December 2021  30 September 2023  
Donors: The European Union - the Twinning project with the Italian Customs Administration & Monopolies 
(ADM)  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
- The technical assistance in the context of the twinning  project aimed at the expansion of the AEO 
program in the ECA and its upgrading in order to be in line with  the best  international practices  through 
training on applying all  the requirements and criteria necessary to grant the AEO status as per the WCO 
SAFE Framework.  
- A legislative review related to AEO has been conducted .  
- Guidelines for the AEO program me has  been developed, providing clear instructions and criteria for 
stakeholders to attain the AEO status . 
- According to Egypt 's notification G/TFA /N/EGY/1/ Add.1 dated 17 Novemb er 2023, t his article was fully 
implemented on 30 September 2023 ahead  of the notified definitive date of 31 December2025.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.8 Expedited Shipments  C 31 December 2021  31 December  2025 
Donors: The USDA  - Transforming the assessment and inspection of food business (TAIB) project; 
The European Union - the Twinning project with the Italian Customs Administration & Monopolies (ADM)  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
The USDA TAIB  project : 
- The project supported NFSA in updating its food control sys tem for imports and exports, training 
programs for NFSA inspectors  to raise the efficiency of the release of food imports at the borders 
including  those through Air Cargo , NFSA relied on pre -arrival notif ications for incoming shipments . The 
project also support s the development/procurement of an e -inspection system and e -certificate for 
NFSA.  G/TFA/N/ EGY/4 
 
- 5 - 
 
  The twinning project between the Egyptian Customs Authority(ECA) and  the Italian Customs 
Administration  and Monopolies (ADM) : 
- Noting that expedited shipments (air-cargo shipments involve s E-commerce,  the twinning project has 
focused on presenting  the EU and the ADM experience with respect to:  
- Developing an E -commerce strategy and the associated risks and implementing monitoring 
mechanisms . 
- The E lectronic integrated models that link customs, postal services, express couriers and the relevant 
control authorities. These systems allow the exchange of information among them in relation to the 
customs declaration.  
- The models and examples of cooperation protocols between customs, postal services, and express 
couriers to allow the possibility of providing the customs with the information rel ated to shipments 
and packages.  
- Currently, the ECA is preparing a draft  strategy for  the risks associated with e -commerce.  
 
TACB support needs include:  
 
• The development of a national implementation framework  for the treatment of expedited  shipment s in 
accordance with international best practices including the establishment of the necessary ICT 
infrastructure.  
• Training of staff on the application of the measure.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.9 Perishable Goods  C 31 December 2021  30 September 2023  
Donors: USDA - Transforming the assessment and inspection of food business (TAIB) project  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance  and capacity building support:  
 
- USDA TAIB  project contracted experts to provide specialized training programs for NFSA inspectors 
regarding the use of latest methods, techniques and percentages for sampling at the border f or 
laboratory testing.  
- This article was fully implemented on 30 September 2 023 according to Egypt 's notification 
G/TFA/N/EGY/1/ Add.1 dated 17 November  2023 ahead of the notified definitive date of 
31 December  2025.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 8  Border Agency 
Cooperation  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  
Donors:  UNCTAD ( funded by the UK Government HM Revenue and Customs ) 
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
- With respect to coordination and cooperation among border agencies at the national leve l, Egypt  
through its national efforts  has taken the necessary measures to coordinate between all border 
agencies in the Egyptian ports in order to clear goods and speed up their release, especially with  regard 
to examination procedures . In this regard, Prime Minister 's Decision No. 3053 of 2019 wa s issued 
regarding the establishment  of a permanent joint commit tee at each customs port to be r esponsible 
for inspection, including one or more representative from each border agency , and the coordinator of 
this committee is a representative of the Customs Authority chosen by the port 's director.  
- Coordination is also carried out among all agencies during the meetings of the various committees, 
including the N ational Trade Facilitation committee (NTFC), which was  established as per Ministerial 
Decree  No. 183 /2011, including all the competent authorities  (public & private).  
- With regard to cooperation with other countries who shar e common border crossing points , it is carried 
out in accordance with memorandums of understanding or regional or bilateral ag reement s regulating 
this matter . 
 
UNCTAD:  
 
- UNCTAD provided the Egyptian NTFC with the reform tracker a digital tool to assist NTFCs  in their role 
as coordinators of trade facilitation reforms  and to monitor this reform .  
- In addition to serving its main purpose , the reform tracker  enables better coordination and cooperation  
among the  border agencies by enhancing visibility of reforms.  
 
TACB support needs include:  
 
Egypt still needs assistance in accordance with sub paragraph 8.2 , these TACB include:   
 
• Establishment  of an electronic network ing for all the border agencies and establishing a unified system 
of procedures to be applicable on the border points . 
• Harmoni zation of different systems between border agencies of neighbouring countries.  
• Capacity building for staff on border agency cooper ation.  
 G/TFA/N/ EGY/4 
 
- 6 - 
 
  Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article10.1  Formalities and documentation 
requirements  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  
Donors: To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
The relevant Egyptian Authorities have not received technical assistance or capacity building in respect of the 
implementation of Article 10.1.  
 
However, Egypt has taken appropriate steps t o minimize the incidence and complexity of import, export, and 
transit formalities and to decrease and simplify documentation requirements.  
 
TACB support needs include:  
 
• Conduct a thorough business process analysis of existing formalities and documentation.   
• Harmonize trade formalities and documentation to international standards.  
• Develop a system for regular  and periodic review of formalities and documentation requirement s.  
• Training of staff. 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 10.2  Acceptance of copies  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  
Donors:  To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Egypt has not received any technical assistance for the implementation  of Article 10.2  
 
TACB support needs include:  
 
• Establishment of  the appropriate  procedural framework and ICT to ensure the sharing information and 
copies across the relevant agencies at the national level . 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date 
for 
implementation  Definitive d ate for 
implementation  
Article 10.3  Use of international 
standards  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  
Donors: To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
Egypt has not received targeted  technical assistance or capacity building in th e implementation of this 
Article  10.3. The use of international standards is the basis for the various trade facilitation measures including 
the simplification of relevant formalities and procedures.  
 
TACB support needs include:  
 
Despite the fact that the r elevant agencies and authorities exert their best effort to use international 
standards, TACB is needed in the following areas:  
 
• Training of staff and creating awareness and understa nding of existing relevant international 
standards.  
• Enhance participation  of the relevant authorities in the development of international standards in the 
different international organizations.  
• Assessing the conformity of existing relevant international formalities and procedures with national 
standards.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 10.4  Single Window  C 31 December 2025  31 December 2030  
Donors:  To be determined  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
- Egypt has not received any technical assistance or capacity building in the implementation of the 
Single  Window.  
- Through its national efforts,  Egypt launched the national single window for Egyptian trade across border 
(NAFEZA) . The single window enables stakeholders to submit all the documentations needed for import, 
export & transit of goods in a single point of entry.  
- Egypt has established a single window system in accordance with international st andards, particularly 
Recommendation  33 issued by (UN/CEFACT).  G/TFA/N/ EGY/4 
 
- 7 - 
 
  - The single window system has been activated in most customs ports, and the platform has been 
electronically linked to most of the border agencies concerned with import, export and transit.  
- The implementation  of the system is being completed in the rest of the border ports and the electronic 
linking still  remains to be  completed with some  concerned a gencie s. 
TACB support needs include:  
 
• Completion of the electronic  networking of all the border agencies to facilitate the operation of the single 
window.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 11 .4-
11.10 , 11.17  Freedom of Transit  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  
Donors:  The European Union - Twinning project with the Italian Customs Administration - EU funded project  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
- Workshops were conducted  with the Egyptian Customs Authority  to exchange  experience and to 
understand the existing  transit system in the EU.  
- A legal review has been conducted and accordingly, the Customs legislations has been modified to be 
in line with the international  best practices and to fulfil the objective of transit -related legislations, which 
is monitoring the flow of international trade and protecting the borders.  
- A transit guideline has been drafted in Arabic and English . 
 
TACB support needs inclu de:  
 
• Development of a procedural framework and ICT infrastructure to ensure interlinking of the relevant 
agencies and authorities.  
• Building capacity of the relevant agencies on the international standards and best practices with respect 
to freedom of tran sit. 
• Establishment of an Administration for the response of enquiries in relation to Transit.  
• Provide the necessary funds to establish separate lanes for Transit in the Egyptian ports.  
• Providing x -ray machines at all customs borders related to Transit.  
• Establish a tracking and trace system including a GPS System for the Containers and trucks for securing 
the transit.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 12  Customs cooperation  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2025  
Donors:  European Union - Twinning project with the Italian Customs Administration  
Progress in the provision of technical assistance and capacity building support:  
 
- A draft proposal for establishing a secure mechanism for exchange of data with other government 
agencies to enhance the exchange of information and cooperate to combat illegal trade . 
- A MOU was drafted to enhance the mechanism of information exchange and better cooperation and 
information  exchange with the stakeholders and the relevant parties.  
TACB support needs include :  
 
• Development of the ICT infrastructure for the secure exchange of data and information.  
• Training and capacity building for the staff on the use of informatio n exchange mechanisms.  
 
__________