WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/TF/W/150 
24 October 2007 
 (07-4606) 
Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation Original:   English 
  
 
COMMUNICATION FROM EGYPT 
 
   The following communication, dated 16 October 2007, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of the Arab Republic of Egypt.   
 
_______________ 
 
 
INITIATIVES UNDERTAKEN BY THE GENERAL ORGANIZATION FOR EXPORTS AND 
IMPORTS CONTROL (GOEIC) RELATED TO TRADE FACILITATION 
 
A National Experience of the Arab Republic of Egypt
 
 
 
 This submission sets out the role played by  the General Organization for Export and Import 
Control's (GOEIC) in reforming and restructuri ng the ongoing trade related procedures and measures, 
in order to facilitate trade flows.  It highlight s the amendments and reforms that the GOEIC has 
launched to modernize trade related systems and procedures, and the progress achieved so far.   
I. WHAT IS THE GOEIC 
- The General Organization for Export and Impor t Control is a service provider, with the 
principle goal of controlling and organizing trade, and at the same time facilitating trade through 
eliminating trade impediments, in a way that will encourage traders and increase trade flows. 
 - GOEIC is dedicated to, inter alia , the protection of the Egyptian citizens and the 
strengthening of transparency and flexibility, in te rms of import and export quality control, that would 
comply with internationally agreed standards. 
 - GOEIC works closely with the different sect ors of the Ministry of Foreign Trade as a 
cooperative entity, whose primary and main objectiv e is to facilitate the movement of trade, 
encourage Egyptian industries, develop exports of  all types and boost its competitive edge in all 
international markets.   
 - GOEIC's activities include:   
 The inspection of imported and exported commodi ties in accordance with the relevant laws 
and regulations (e.g., laws regul ating ionized radiations and their risk prevention, food 
control, toxic materials, protection of antiquiti es …), in addition to the optional inspection of 
commodities upon the request of applicants.   
 The issuance of certificates of  origin for commodities of Egyptian origin, and the keeping of 
Commercial Registries (Exporters and Impo rters Registries, Commercial Mediators 
Registries, Scientific and Consultative Bureau Registries).   TN/TF/W/150 
Page 2  
 
   Cooperating with the Egyptian Organization fo r Standardization and Quality (EOS) in 
amending the specifications of imported foodstuffs and industrial goods.  
 Printing material on the services rendered, changes in procedures. 
 
II. INITIATIVES UNDERTAKEN IN RECENT YEARS BY GOEIC TO FACILITATE 
TRADE  
1. Restructuring and Human Resources Development at GOEIC 
 An Integrated Training Center was establis hed in GOEIC's "Dekheila Port" and "Cairo 
International Airport" branches, and is equi pped with modern technology equipment.  All 
employees have undertaken the relevant technical and other types of training, including some 
that benefited from overseas training.  
 
2. Information Technology Projects 
 All procedures at GOEIC branches in the differe nt ports have been automated, and linked 
with GOEIC's headquarters for faster follow-up and decision-making.  Moreover, several 
GOEIC branches have been linked electronically with Customs branches in the same location, 
and work is ongoing to establish links between the remaining branches.  
 These actions have led to faster and more ac curate processing that has reduced the average 
time of release of consignments from 5 - 7 days to 30 minutes - 3 days.  
 GOEIC has an official website ( www.goeic.gov.eg
) that is updated continuously.  The 
website contains trade related information and advice, laws, regulations, and databases 
relevant to GOEIC's work.  The website has been recently translated into English.  
 
3. Establishment of a Database of Egypt's Foreign Trade 
 GOEIC established a Database of foreign trad e-related data, developed and modernized 
information systems and programs to serve a larg er group of GOEIC customers.  This resulted 
in providing rapid, complete, and accurate data  on the movement of Egypt's foreign trade, 
issuing detailed statistical reports that benef it traders, and supported sound and rapid decision-
making at the appropriate times. 
 
4. Establishment of a Trade Services Center 
 A Trade Services Center (TSC) has been est ablished at the GOEIC Cairo International 
Airport branch with USAID's assistance, to pr ovide advisory services and information in the 
field of exports and imports, and serve the needs of GOEIC's customers in domestic and international markets.  
 A Call Centre has been established to reply to complaints and inquiries from GOEIC's 
customers. 
 
5. Establishment, Development and Ac creditation of the laboratories:  
 GOEIC has established and developed many of the laboratories in the field of food and 
industrial testing, and many have been accredite d internationally.  GOEIC has also provided 
assistance to some neighbouring countries on inspection procedures and laboratory testing 
and accreditation.  Development and accreditation of  these laboratories have led to faster and 
more accurate testing results.  
  TN/TF/W/150 
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  III. GOEIC'S PARTICIPATION IN IMPROVING LEGISLATIONS 
1. Ministerial Decree No. 130 of 2005 and its Annexes 
 The Decree identified 205 food-related specifi cations that domestic and imported products 
have to meet, whereby testing is only performed  for the products' essential characteristics and 
label information.  Other qualit y-related testing is foregone.  
 For products not covered by the Decree and its  annexes, the importer identifies the standard 
that he would like his product to be tested ag ainst (this would be one of the Egyptian or 
international standards according to Decree No. 180 of 1996). 
 Exporters can export based on international, European, regional, Egyptian, or whatever 
standards that were agreed upon between the contracting parties.  
 
2. Ministerial Decree No. 423 of 2005  
 The Decree covers 182 Egyptian standards fo r industrial commodities that producers and 
importers of engineering, chemical, and tex tiles and apparel products have to abide by 
according to mandatory Egyptian standards.   These goods are examined upon importation 
according to the mandatory Egyptian standards.  The rest of the goods are examined against 
either Egyptian or international standa rds according to Decree No. 180 of 1996.  
 Producers and importers of detergents, soap a nd paper products, and cosmetics, are required 
to abide by health and safety standards of European Directives and their amendments.  
 It is worth noting that the number of mandatory Egyptian standards represents less than 1% of 
total Egyptian standards, while the rest are vol untary.  Producers and importers can either 
choose to use voluntary standards or internati onal standards.  The Egyptian Organization for 
Standardization and Quality (EOS) is working to ensure the harmonization of all Egyptian 
standards with international standards.  
 
3. Ministerial Decree No. 770 of 2005 
 Regulations concerning imports and exports cl earance do not apply to mail packages that 
contain intermediary goods, spare parts, and samples, provided that the package value does 
not exceed $2000.  These items are directly cleared from Customs after the payment of 
administrative charges. 
 Inspection procedures have been unified under the GOEIC umbrella since 2000 (through 
Decree No. 106 of 2000).  Inspection and contro l procedures are all undertaken in one phase, 
with the participation of all competent aut horities according to their laws and regulations. 
 GOEIC is the only agency to which Customs tr ansmits documents relate d to import or export 
shipments and is the only agency that issues the final results of inspections. GOEIC offices 
include representatives from other authoriti es responsible for inspection and control 
procedures. 
 A single representative sample is withdrawn from the imported shipment.  A code is then 
given and the sample is distributed so that a ll necessary testing is conducted according to the 
type of good. 
 For goods that are just physically inspected , GOEIC issues a conformity certificate as soon as 
the examination is successfully completed.  
 No shipment is rejected unless a second sample is  withdrawn.  The importer then has the right 
to request a re-examination and has a week to  provide justification from the date he was 
notified of the rejection.  The importer or the ex porter has the right to appeal the results to a 
complaints committee that then d ecides to accept or reject the final results or re-examine the 
sample.  TN/TF/W/150 
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   GOEIC takes into consideration inspection cer tificates issued by gove rnmental agencies or 
laboratories that are accredited by the Intern ational Accreditation Council.  In this case, 
physical inspection is sufficient for industrial goods. 
 Physical inspection and conformity of ship ment documentation (with actual shipment) is 
sufficient for shipments of imported industri al goods from producers registered with GOEIC 
and that comply with the following rules: 
 
- A registration application is submitted by the product's commercial agent, its 
representative, or its importer specifying tr ademarks, types, and production locations 
in other countries.  
 - The producer must have a quality control management system. 
 - The production takes place according to one of the EOS approved standards.   
 
IV. CONCLUSION 
 The world has recently witnessed rapid de velopments and successive changes in the 
international dynamics related to foreign trade, leadi ng to core adjustments in the field of international 
trade policies.  Moreover, new economic entities and blocks have emerged compelling the Arab 
Republic of Egypt to work hard to keep pace with  such developments through continuously reviewing 
its trade policies.  The highlights of this ne w policy are streamlining formalities, eliminating 
bureaucracy, vitalizing markets, encouraging and developing local industries, promoting Egyptian 
exports and boosting their competitive edge.  This polic y has been reflected in the role played by the 
General Organization for Export and Import Control' s (GOEIC) in reforming and restructuring the 
ongoing trade related procedures and measures.   
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