Decree  of the Prime Minister  
No.  412 of the year 2019  
----------  
The Prime Minister  
After reviewing the Constitution, 
After reviewing the Code of Criminal Procedure, 
After reviewing the Law on the National Food Safety Authority  (NFSA ) enacted  by Law No. 
1 of the year  2017 , and  
After consulting with the State Council, 
Decreed the following: 
Clause  (1)  
The aforementioned  Law on NFSA  shall be governed by the provisions of the attached  
Executive Regulations . Any other provision contrary to what is stated in the attached 
Executive R egulations shall hereby be repealed.   
Clause (2)  
This decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force on the day 
following the date of publication.  
 
  Prime Minister                    
        /  / 2019 
 
Dr. Mustafa Kamal Madbouli 
  Chapter I ) ) 
General Provisions 
Definitions 
Article (1) 
The following terms shall, in the application of the provisions of the present Executive 
Regulations , have the meanings  set forth next to each:  
"NFSA " means  the National Food Safety Authority.  
"Competent Authority " means the NFSA  Chairman of the Board of Directors (COB). 
"Law " means  the Law on NFSA enacted  by Law  No. 1 of 2017.  
"Mandatory Technical Regulations " means d ecisions taken  by NFSA in order to determine 
the characteristics of food or methods and processes of production  and management rules, 
which may include terms, sy mbols, data , wrapping,  label  and labelling  requirements applied 
to a product  or methods and processes of production or may be restricted to either of them. 
Compliance with such regulations is mandatory.  
"Hazard " means any physical, biological, chemical or radiological agent in food  with the 
potential to cause an adverse health effect . 
"Risk " means a function of the probability of an adverse effect on human health  and of the 
severity of that effect, consequential to a hazard.  
"Contamination " means  the introduction or occurrence of a contaminant in food . 
"Fraud " means the act of falsification, counterfeiting and mingling  of a particular  product 
intended for sale  or possessed for the purpose of handling , by su bstantially altering, 
modifying  and misrepresenting the  essence , normal composition , weight or expiration date  of 
the product  with a view to changing  the main characteristics of such product  or hiding  any 
defect s in a fake or counterfeit product  in order to appear identical to  a genuine product  in 
terms of  shape and appearance, while in fact such product  is different  from  a genuine  
product , without being declared o n label s so as to get the price difference between genuine 
and fake or counterfeit product s and to realize the maximum finan cial gain rapidly and easily. 
It also  means  an intentional fraudulent marketing practice . 
 "Deception " means the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or 
invalid.  
"Processing " means any action that substantially alters the main characteristics of food  in 
particular,  cooking, baking, heating, smoking, curing, maturing, drying, mixing, milling, 
parting, severing, packaging, canning, chilling, freezing, pickling, extraction, extrusion , 
irradiation,  ozone treatment , thawing  or a combination of those processes.  
"Manufacture " means a ll acti vities performed  in a food business from the stage of receipt of 
raw materials until the distribution  of food . 
"Food Business"  means any undertaking, whether for profit or not and whether public or 
private, permanent or temporary , performing  any of the activities related to any stage of  processing, production,  manufacture, storage, preserving, packaging, wrapping labelling , 
importation, exportation , transport, delivery, offering or displaying a product  for sale to the 
final consumer or to another business. The definition also includes fixed, temporary or 
mobile food businesses  as well as  ruminant and poultry slaughterhouses .  
"Food Business Operator s (FBO s)" means the natural or legal persons responsible for 
ensuring that the requirements of the law and food safety related legislation are fulfilled  
within  the food business under the control  thereof.   
 
"Food Handling  License " means  permission granted  by NFSA for a food business  to work  
in the area of  food handling  subsequent to verifying the compliance thereof with all 
requirements of food handling set forth in the law and food safety related legislation . 
"Official Controls"  means  controls performed  by NFSA with a view to verifying 
compliance with the law and food safety related legislation . 
"Audit  "means a systematic and independent examination to determine whether activities 
and the related results thereof  comply with planned arrangements and whether such 
arrangements are applied effectively so as  to attain  the objectives.  
"Inspection"  means the examination of any aspect of food so as  to verify that such aspects 
comply with the legal requirements set forth in the law and food safety related legislation . 
  
"Monitoring"  means conducting a planned sequence of observations or measurements with 
a view to obtaining an overview of the state of compliance with the law and food safety 
related legislation .  
 
"Surveillance"  means a careful observation  of one or mo re food businesses, FBO s or the 
activities  performed by such businesses  with a view to verifying the compliance thereof with 
the law and food safety related legislation .  
 
"Sampling for Analysis"  means taking a food sample or any other substance ( including , 
from the  environment) relevant to food handling, so as  to verify through analysis compliance 
with  the law and food safety related legislation .  
 
"Certificate  of Compliance " means  a paper or electronic certificate , or by any equivalent 
means , issued by NFSA providing assurance on compliance with  the law and food safety 
related legislation .  
 
"Wrapping"  means the placing of a foodstuff in a wrapper or container in direct contact with  the 
foodstuff concerned, and the wrapper or container itself.  
 
"Packaging"  means the placing of one or more wrapped foodstuffs in a second container, and  
the latter container itself.  
 
"Label"  means any tag, brand, mark, pictorial or other descriptive matter, written, printed, 
stencilled, marked, embossed or impressed on, or attached to, a container of food.  
 
"Labelling " means any written, printed or graphic matter that is present on the label, 
accompanies the food, or is displayed near the food, including , that for the purpose of promoting 
sale or disposal th ereof.  
 "Advertising " means t he dissemination of any informat ion or data on any food product, 
publication through print media or broadcast through electronic media, i.e. audio -visual 
media , whether through positive or negative advertising or promotion for such product and  
whether directly or indirectly.  
Management of NFSA  
Article (2)  
NFSA  shall establish mandatory technical regulations that include the rules  and requirements 
of food safety in accordance with international standards , and a decision on such regulations 
shall be issued by the NFSA Board of Directors  (BOD (. 
Article (3)  
The competent authority shall, upon the ap proval of BOD  and the admission of the Board of 
Trustees , issue the administrative and financial rules and regulations  necessary for the 
activities  performed by NFSA without being restricted to the laws and regulations applicable 
to the administrative apparatus of the State. 
 (Chapter II)  
Obligations of NFSA  
Risk  Analysis  
Article (4)  
NFSA  shall establish the procedures necessary for the implementation of risk analysis system  
in order to provide a high level of protection for the safety and health of consumer s. 
NFSA shall make  science -based risk assessment, where scientific evidence exists  in an 
independent, impartial  and transparent manner.  
The results of risk assessment s shall be taken into consideration in risk management , and the 
results of the studies made by competent international organizations and bodies  may be taken 
into account.  Consumption  patterns, consumer behavior in Egypt  and other legitimate 
requirements related to the subject under consideration  shall also be taken into account 
provided that health and safety requirements are fulfilled . 
Traceability  
Article (5)  
NFSA  shall develop  a food traceability  system that clarifies the obligations on all parties at 
all stages of production, processing, manufacture , packaging and other food handling 
operations  until a product reaches a consumer.  
Labelling of Food stuffs   
Article (6)  
NFSA shall establish rules and proc edures for the labelling  of food stuffs,  and no labelling , 
advertising or presentation of foodstuffs , including , shape, appearance, packaging or  the 
packaging materials used, the manner in which such foodstuffs  are arranged and the setting in which they are displayed, and the information which is made available thereon  through 
whatever medium, may mislead  or deceive  consumers.  
Scientific studies  
Article (7)  
NFSA shall take action s necessary  to collect, collate, a nalyze, summarize the scientific and 
technical data  relevant to competence  thereof and shall create a database  of such scientific 
and technical data.  This shall involve in particular the collection of data relating to:  
(a) food consumption and exposure of individuals to risks related to consumption,  
(b) incidence and p revalence of biological hazards,  
(c) contaminants in food , 
(d) residues,  and 
(e) determination  of licensed and unlicensed food business es. 
To that end , NFSA  shall cooperate with all bodies  and organizations concerned with  data 
collection, both locally and internationally.  
Local authorities shall, upon request, notify  NFSA  of data collected and  related  to activities  
performed by NFSA . 
Official Controls  
Article (8) 
NFSA shall  perform  official control s in respect of the food handling as follows:  
1 - verification of compliance  of food businesse s with the provisions of the law and food 
safety related legislation and performing  official control s to ensure the compliance of 
FBOs  with the relevant requirements of such legislation at all stages of food handling ; 
 2. establishing and implementing a system  of official control s in respect of food businesse s, 
use and storage  of food  and any process, material , substance  or activity  related to food , 
including  activities related to transporting food, any activities required to attain  the 
objectives as set forth in  the law and food safety related legislation , surveillance  systems 
for food safety and other means of monitoring that cover all stages of food handling ; and  
3. undertaking  official control  tasks  in general, using appropriate methods and techniques  
such as monitoring, surveillance , verification , audit , inspection , product traceability , 
sampling, sample  analysis  and other methods and techniques  of official control s. NFSA 
has the right to  document non-compliance cases  using all appropriate techniques and 
metho ds such as taking photographs . 
NFSA shall perform  official controls on  food businesse s without prior notice, except for 
audits where prior notification of FBO s is necessary.  
NFSA shall perform  official controls periodically,  on a risk basis and  with appropriate 
frequency, so as to attain  the objectives set forth in  the law, taking into account:  
  (a) identified risks associated with food or a food business , use of food, or any 
process, material, substance or activity that may influence food safety;  
(b) the previous record of FBO s in respect of compliance with the law and food 
safety related legislation ; 
(c) the reliability of any checks  conducted  by a food business ; and 
(d) any information that might indicate non -compliance . 
Article (9)  
NFSA shall cooperate and coordinate with the ministries  concerned  in respect of  the issuance  
of mandatory  technical regulations . 
Article (10)  
Both NFSA and the bodies  concerned  at the ministries  shall implement cooperation  and 
coordination protocols  among each other in accordance with the competence  thereof . 
Staff Performing  Official Controls  
Article  (11) 
NFSA shall ensure that all staff performing  official controls receive, in accordance with 
responsibilities  thereto entrusted , appropriate training so as to be able  to fulfill the respective 
duties efficiently . 
 (Chapter III)  
Obligations of FBOs  and Food Handlers  
Food Handling License  
Article (1 2) 
1- Food businesses shall, prior to  product handling, obtain a food -handling license from 
NFSA in accordance with requirements , including the fees payable,  approved by 
NFSA /BOD in this regard.  
2. F ood businesses existing at the time of the enforcement of the present Executive 
Regulations shall submit an application for adjustment to NFSA in accordance with the 
rules and procedures approved by NFSA/BOD.  
3. All FBOs  shall,  by any means specified by NFSA, notify the latter of all businesses under 
control  thereof  and shall also, on a regular basis,  inform NFSA of up-to-date information 
on such businesses , including any significant change to the activities performed thereby or 
the closure of any  business . 
4. NFSA/COB or any person so authorized may , in accordance with the levels of 
management determined by COB , take decisions on destruction of  food, suspension of 
licenses,  stopping production,  closure of food business  establishments  and re-exportation 
in case  such food is found to be harmful to human health or unfit for human consumption . 
 Article (1 3) 
FOBs and staff at all stages of food handling shall:  
1. cooperate with NFSA in respect of the application of the law and food safety related 
legislation ; 
2. ensure that foods at all stages of handling within the businesses under control  of FOBs 
fulfill  the requirements  set forth in the law and food safety related legislation, which are 
relevant to th e activities  of such businesses  and also verify that such requirements are 
fulfilled  and that the environmental criteria and limits are not exceeded ; 
3. comply with the following health measures depending on the nature of products:  
(a) applying microbiological criteria for foodstuffs developed and established in 
accordance with the rules an d requirements approved by NFSA , 
(b) taking the procedures  necessary for reaching the specified levels  with a view to 
attaining  the objectives as set forth in  the law and food safety related legislation , 
(c) fulfilling the temperature control requirements for foodstuffs,  
(d) maintaining the cold chain  for chilled and frozen food , and  
(e) sampling and analyzing food  by food businesses ; 
4. develop and apply a n established procedure or procedures  based on the  Hazard Analysis 
and Critical Control Point  (HACCP ) principles, and co ntinue applying such procedures; 
and 
5. ensure that the following procedures are taken:  
(a) exercising appropriate supervision over food handlers within food businesses to 
ensure that good food handling practices  are followed , 
(b) ensuring that s taff within food businesses are trained in the field of food safety 
and the relevant fields in a manner consistent with the tasks  there to assigned and 
in accordance with the instructions provided by NFSA in this regard,  and 
(c) training persons  responsible for developing and implementing HACCP 
procedures in the appropriate field and implementing the HACCP system on a 
regular basis . 
Genetically Modified and Irradiated Foods  
 Article (1 4) 
NFSA shall establish proc edures and rules for registration and  licensing  the handling 
of foods for special dietary u ses (FSDU ), genetically modified foods  and irradiated 
foods.   
(Chapter IV) 
Food Export and Import  Control  
Article (1 5) 
NFSA shall solely  control  and conduct visual inspection and documentary checks on 
the imported and exported foods and take food samples to be examined and analyzed 
in accredited laboratories. The Egyptian Customs Authority shall approve the 
decisions taken by NFSA in respect of  food safety.  
The r esults of examination issued by any other authority, in accordance with the 
defin ition of food set forth in the law, may not be accepted. The Egyptian Customs 
Authority shall also release all imported or exported food products  from customs  so 
long as  NFSA takes  a decision indicating  the fulfillment of  examination 
requirements and the fitness  of imported consignment s. 
FBOs  responsible for the import ation  or export ation  of food consignments  or the 
authorized representatives thereof shall pay the costs incurred by NFSA for 
performing  the activities  referred to in the present Executive Regulations.  
Article (1 6) 
NFSA shall establish the rules governing sampling and examination of samples  taken 
from  the consignments  of imported  and exported food, including visual inspection 
procedures and the analyses required to be conducted in the accredited laboratories 
contracted with by NFSA in light of potential risks provided that NFSA/COB issues  
a decision  on such rules and the mandatory  technical regulations  in this regard . 
Certificates of Compliance  
Article (1 7) 
NFSA shall establish the requirements and rules governing the issuance of 
certificates of compliance required to export the locally  produced product. NFSA 
shall also have sole competence to  issue such certificates in accordance with the 
rules established by NFSA/BOD  in this regard . 
NFSA shall, in accordance with the definition of food set forth in the law, accept the 
certificates issued by the competent authorities of the plant quarantine and veterinary 
quarantine at the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation in respect of  plant 
and animal health respectively.  
 
  
(Chapter V) 
Contracting with Laboratories  
Article (1 8) 
NFSA shall contract with governmental accredited laboratories to examine food 
samples taken  within the framework of performing  the offic ial controls.  In cases  
where governmental accredited laboratories  are not competent to conduct  specific 
testing required for performing  such controls, NFSA  may contract with private 
accredited laboratories in Egypt  or abroad  in order  to conduct such testing .    
Laboratories desiring  to contract with NFSA for the purpose of examining food 
samples shall notify NFSA of  the valid accreditation certificates there to granted , 
including a statement of the accredited tests, the scope of accreditation and the level 
of precision and accuracy . NFSA shall be notified by the laboratories of any change 
or amendment to such certificates  within a one -month term as of the date of change  
or amendment . 
NFSA/BOD shall establish the procedures and requirements of co ntracting with 
laboratories as well as the procedures for updating the list of the contracted 
laboratories, examinations and tests by way of addition or omission.  
(Chapt er VI) 
Emergency Procedures  
Article (1 9) 
NFSA shall develop food safety emergency plans, including measures to be taken 
without delay in cases where food is found to pose a significant hazard  to humans.  
Provisional risk management measures may, when the need arises, be adopted to 
ensure that food consumers are provided with an appropriate level of health 
protection in cases  where the possibility of harmful effects on health is identified but 
scientific un certainty persists. Such measures shall remain in force pending further 
scientific information for a more comprehensive risk assessment.  
NFSA shall develop a general plan for food safety crisis management. This plan shall 
specify  the types of situations i nvolving direct or indirect risks to human health 
deriving from food, which are not likely to be prevented, eliminated or reduced to 
acceptable levels by provisions in place or cannot adequately be managed.  
The general plan shall also identify  the practic al procedures necessary for managing 
crises, inter alia , the role of the competent authorities and the strategic partners towards  managing crises , the risk communication strategies and ways of cooperation 
therebetween . 
(Chapter VII) 
Appeal Against NFSA’s Decisions  
Appeal Committees  
Article ( 20) 
One or more appeal committee s shall, upon the recommendation of NFSA/BOD, be 
formed by virtue of a decision  issued  by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Each 
committee shall be headed by a deputy chairman of the State Council delegated in 
accordance with the rules of State Council, and shall include the membership of the 
following:  
a) a representative of NFSA, design ated by NFSA/COB,  
b) a representative of the Chamber of Food Industries, designated by the 
Chairman of the General Federa tion of Egyptian Industries, and  
c) a representative of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, 
designated by the Chairman of the Fe deration.  
Appeal c ommittee s may, in accordance with the nature of the appeal lodged, request 
the assistance of one or more specialized expert s to be selected from the list of 
experts approved by NFSA/ BOD.  
Appeal c ommittees shall have sole competence to consider appeals lodged by parties 
concerned against NFSA ’s administrative decisions on food safety  in accordance 
with the provisions of the law, other food safety related laws and the implementing 
decrees related  thereto . 
Article (2 1) 
An Appeal C ommittee ’s Technical S ecretariat shall be established at NFSA by virtue 
of a decision  issued  by NFSA/COB.  
Said Technical S ecretariat shall monitor  appeal committee s’ work and set the dates 
of the  meetings thereof  and shall develop appeal application forms.  
The Technical S ecretariat shall also prepare a list of the experts who can provide 
technical assistance to the appeal committees provided that such list is approved by 
NFSA/BOD.  NFSA/COB shall , upon the request of the Chairman of Appeal 
Committee, nominate the experts and define the remit  thereof . 
The T echnical Secretariat shall maintain  a record  of appeals lodged by parties 
concerned. The hour and date of receiving the appeals as well as the committee 
having competence to consider such ap peals shall be mentioned in the appeal record . Appellant s shall be furnished with a document confirming the receipt of the appeal 
application and indicating  the application number and the  date of receipt there of. 
 
Procedures of Appeal  Registration and Determination  
Article (2 2) 
1. Parties  concerned shall appeal against NFSA’s decisions within a fifteen -day term 
as of the date of notification or acknowledgment of NFSA ’s decision s. 
2. The appeal application shall be made in writing or in electronic form by 
completing  the form prepared for such purpose. The appeal application shall in 
particular include the following data:  
a. the name, capacity and address of the appellant,  
b. the decision under appeal , the date of issuance  and the date of notification 
or acknowledgment  thereof , 
c. an explanation statement of the appeal indicating  the grounds of such 
appeal,  and 
d. supporting documentati on for appeal, any other documents or papers 
requested by the Technical Secretariat.  
3. The appeal application shall be addressed to NFSA/COB and shall be maintained  
in the appeal record  of the Technical Secretariat.  
Article (2 3) 
Lawsuits fil ed before the competent Administrative Court of Law in order to obtain 
annulment or suspension of execution of the administrative decisions taken by NFSA 
may not be accepted unless an appeal is filed before the Appeal Committee and a 
deadline  specified for making a determination in respect of any appeal elapses .  
Article (2 4) 
Appeal Committees and Determination  
1. The appeal c ommittees shall take all procedures necessary for considering the 
appeals lodged by parties concerned and may hold a hearing to discuss  points of 
view thereof.  
2. The a ppeal  committees may confirm, set aside or amend the decisi on under 
appeal. The decisions of the appeal committee s shall be final and reasoned  and 
may not b e challenged by either parties, i.e. parties  concerned and NFSA , except 
by way of litigation.  3. The appeal c ommittee s shall make a determination in respect of the appeal within 
a fifteen -day term as of date of receipt and within a three -day term in case of 
expedited appeals  established by virtue of a decision  issued  by NFSA/COB .  
4. The d ecisions of the appeal  committees shall be adopted by the majority vote of  
the committee members. In the case of an equality of votes, the Chairman of the 
Committee shall have a casting vote.  
5. Parties concerned shall be notified of the decisions of the appeal c ommittee s.  
6. NFSA/COB shall, upon the approval of NFSA/BOD, take a decision  on the 
remuneration due to the members of the appeal committees and to the experts 
providing assistance to such committees.  
Chapter ( VIII ) 
Capacity of Judicial Officers  
Article (2 5) 
Without prejudice to the powers  granted to the judicial officers having general 
competence, the NFSA employees entrusted with implementing the provisions of the 
law and food safety related legislation shall have the capacity of judicial officers 
having sole competence to prove the offences committed in violation of the 
provisions of said laws and the implementing decrees related  thereto . 
The judicial officers having general competence shall, in exercising the powers  
thereto granted in respect of food safety related le gisla tion, coordinate with NFSA  
provided that sampling, de tention and destruction of food  are made in the presence 
one of the NFSA  judicial officer s. 
Article (2 6) 
The NFSA employees having the capacity of judicial officers shall, upon the 
recommendation of NFSA/COB  and the approval of the competent minister , be 
designated by virtue of a decree of the Minister of Justice. Said employees have the 
right to  prove the offences related to food  safety and handling using a ll state -of-the-
art techniques and methods such as taking photographs  and other means so as to  
fulfill the respective duties efficiently . 
Article (2 7) 
NFSA/COB shall, upon the approval of NFSA /BOD, establish the rules and 
disciplines to be adhered  to by the NFSA j udicial officers in performing  the official 
controls on food businesses that are subject to the provisions of the l aw. All the 
powers  specified in the food safety related laws shall be granted to s aid officers.  
  
 
Article (2 8) 
The NFSA judicial officers shall continue to enjoy the capacity of judicial officers 
even on leave and public holidays  and shall be deprived thereof by  the end of service 
or suspension from work by virtue of judicial or administrative decisions.  
Article (2 9) 
The NFSA employees having the capacity of judicial o fficers shall, at the time of 
inspection, act in accordance with the judicial officer identification card s 
determining the capacity and the powers  thereto granted  and shall show the relevant 
identification cards to parties concerned.  
Article ( 30) 
The NFSA judicial officers  have  the right to inspect all food  businesses and staff  at 
all stages of food handling .