Egypt has reintroduced yesterday the import lock for wheat with ergot. The suppliers are shocked, the common international tolerance limit had been accepted by 0.05% after long and controversial debates by the Egyptian authorities only last month.
Ergot spores can lead to hallucinations consumed in large quantities, they are but harmless in small doses for humans. Yesterday's decision is retroactive for all wheat deliveries in the future coming into the country or have come in the last few weeks. You are rejected, as a spokesman for the Ministry of agriculture. A rationale for the decision of yesterday has not been so far.
In July, Egypt had confirmed that one the common international tolerance of 0.05
% for ergot in wheat will accept. So were a months dispute to end, which has endangered the massive purchase program of the Egyptian Government.
A risk assessment of FAO, which confirmed that the introduction of ergot after Egypt there would mean no danger for the Egyptian wheat harvest in July had resulted in the end of the zero-tolerance policy. Yesterday the President of plant health authority Ashraf Khalil told the news agency of Reuters has informed now that the FAO would have taken into account not the specific DNA strands of Egyptian wheat, as well as the hot air in Egypt.
Total, 15 countries from which Egypt has so far involved wheat, are ergot risk areas. One wool not completely adjust the trade with them, but merely made sure know that imports only from regions, which have no ergot of risk of of Khalil. The July decision had resulted in that the Egyptian Government buyers, the GASC, was able to draw on a large number of offers at fair prices. Yesterday's decision now causes that agreed deliveries because of ergot can be objected to in the last few weeks. It is expected that there will be a boycott of the provider now again and that it will have the GASC hard wheat to fill the large gap of the country.
The vendors see it as almost impossible to get ergot-free parts of the wheat. You will hold is probably back in further tenders. That would be a disaster for Egypt believe dealers in Cairo.
