Egypt (EG)
1.1 Establishment registration
| Initial listing procedure | Required? |
|---|---|
| Export registration | Yes |
| Establishment listing required for Egypt | No |
Exporters should be aware that Egyptian authorities are re-testing dairy shipments on arrival and may experience delays.
Ships stores
Export certification is not issued for ships stores as the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021 do not apply. Ships stores are milk and milk products on ships or aircraft for the use of passengers and crew or for the service of the ships or aircraft on a voyage from Australia.
1.2 Overseas listing
1.3 Prohibited products
There are no known products that are prohibited for export to this market.
1.4 General information
2.1 Milk and milk products
Milk and milk products of bovine origin are defined as prescribed goods under the Export Control Act. Production of these products for export is regulated under the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.
Milk and milk products manufactured from non-bovine species, for example buffalo, goat and sheep, may also need to be regulated through the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021, though this is only required when export registration and health certification from the Department is required by Egypt.
We are not aware that Egypt has any known additional requirements for the production and export of non-bovine milk and milk products.
2.2 Compositional requirements
2.3 Further information
3.1 Technical grade and pharmaceutical products
Unless technical products and pharmaceutical material are prepared at an establishment that produces milk and milk products for export as food, these products are non-prescribed goods. They are not regulated by the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.
3.2 Animal feed
Unless animal food is prepared at an establishment that produces milk and milk products for export as food, these products are non-prescribed goods.
In accordance with the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021, animal food must be clearly identified as animal food and not for human consumption. It must also be segregated from and not contaminate milk and milk products that are for human consumption.
3.3 Manufacturing grade products
Egypt has no known additional requirements for Manufacturing Grade milk and milk products that differ from the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.
Manufacturing Grade products are defined in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.
3.4 Processing
3.5 Further information
4.1 Microbial and residue sampling
Egypt has no known additional requirements for microbial sampling of milk and milk products that differ from those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.
Egypt residue standards
Maximum residue limits (MRLs) or import tolerances for residues of specific agricultural and veterinary chemicals approved for use in Australia may not exist in Egypt or may be established at levels lower than those established in Australia. Maximum Limits (MLs) for contaminants may also vary between Egypt and Australia.
Food business operators should note that:
- These differences can be interrogated case-by-case by considering the Egypt standards and the Australian standards.
- Any detection of a residue above the Egypt MRLs/MLs (as applicable) at the border may result in rejection of the consignment.
- Note
- Importing country residue standards can usually be found via the official webpages of their competent authority. Links to a limited number of export markets and Australia are provided on the DAFF website.
4.2 Operational requirements additional to Australia's export legislation
Egypt has no known additional requirements for general operations that differ from those required in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.
4.3 Hygiene
General requirements
The Egyptian Government's Advance Cargo Information (ACI) pre-clearance system (the Nafeza Customs Single Window System) issues consignments with an ACI Identification number (ACID number). Exporters must include an ACID number on all consignment shipping documentation.
Copies of all documentation relating to a consignment must be uploaded to the Nafeza system and each uploaded document must be identified with the relevant ACID number when uploaded.
Documentation includes:
- Copies of Australian government issued certification
- Copies of Commercial export documentation such as commercial invoices, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin.
In the case of government issued certification, the ACID number should be entered into the request for export (REX) in the Additional information text field. This information will be printed on the certificate.
Exporters must also ensure the ACID number appears on any commercial documents uploaded to the Nafeza system.
5.1 Milk and milk products
Milk and milk products that are prescribed under Australia's export rule
- are milk or milk products derived from a bovine animal; and
- are intended to be exported as food.
Milk and milk products that are not prescribed under Australia's export rules
Milk and milk products which do not meet the criteria under the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021 are classified by Australia as non-prescribed goods. It is the responsibility of the exporter to confirm with Egypt if there are any specific requirements for the import of these products. Typically, non-prescribed goods include ice-cream, non-bovine milk products, colostrum and products with a minor component of dairy.
Further information on exporting non-prescribed goods from Australia is available on the Department's website.
In some cases, an importing country requires specific health certification and government oversight for what would typically be non-prescribed milk and milk products. When required, these products become prescribed under export legislation and must meet all export and importing country requirements. This includes the products being manufactured and stored at an export registered establishment and must have a valid export permit and health certificate for each consignment. Guidance on export registration can be found at Dairy export registered establishments.
5.1.1 Health certificates for milk and milk products
For milk and milk products produced for human consumption (including milk and milk products classified as a prescribed good by an importing country), use health certificate template ZD035.
ZD035 dairy health certificate
The ZD035 certificate contains the following attestations:
I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:
- In sound condition
- Fit for human consumption
- Of Australian origin.
Endorsement 367 – Dairy – Egypt disease and contaminants statement
Milk used in these products has been pasteurised or thermally treated at pasteurisation temperatures at least in accordance with international methods, and is free of hormones, drugs, insecticides, heavy metals and poison.
Animals from which these products were taken were free from clinical diseases caused by the agents listed in the Office International des Epizooties List A for the species concerned, and live in an area free of these diseases. I further certify that Foot and Mouth Disease, Rinderpest and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy do not exist in Australia.
Optional endorsement 368 – Dairy – Egypt disease, radioactivity and contaminants
Milk used in these products has been pasteurised or thermally treated at pasteurisation temperatures at least in accordance with international methods, and is free of hormones, drugs, insecticides, heavy metals and poison.
Animals from which these products were taken were free from clinical diseases caused by the agents listed in the Office International des Epizooties List A for the species concerned, and live in an area free of these diseases. I further certify that Foot and Mouth Disease, Rinderpest and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy do not exist in Australia.
- Routine fallout monitoring has been undertaken in all Australian states since the mid-1950's. Following the cessation of French atmospheric nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific in 1974, fallout deposits decreased rapidly until present, where levels are at or below the minimum detectable,
- Monitoring since Chernobyl has shown no increase in fallout deposits and indications are that all fallout has now occurred and there will be no change, and
- Extensive testing since the Chernobyl accident of all agricultural products (including the dairy products listed above) exported from Australia confirms that the radioactivity levels are negligible and therefore significantly less than 50 becquerels per kilogram measured as Caesium 134 and Caesium 137.
Halal certification
Refer to Market Access Advice Notice MAA 2025-06: Milk and Milk Products: Egypt: Exclusion for milk and milk products from implementation of halal certification for more information.
Exporters should continue to work closely with their importers to ensure milk and milk products exported to Egypt meet all importing country documentation requirements. Commercial halal certification may still be required for products labelled as halal and exported to Egypt.
Exporter declaration
Whenever export documentation is obtained, the exporter must provide a declaration stating that all the information provided in the permit is true and complete. They must also state that they are in possession of a declaration of compliance that:
- applies to the milk and milk products
- complies with the requirements of the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.
Transit certification requirements
Milk and milk products transiting the European Union or the United States may require transit documentation. These certificates are available as additional certificates through the EXDOC system. If the product is transiting the United States, standard certification is required and the exporter should contact the Department for advice on how this certification may be issued. If the product is transiting a European Union member state, see the particular European Union member state regarding the certificate template to select.
5.2 Manufacturing grade products
For manufacturing grade milk and milk products, use the ZD016 certificate as to condition for manufacturing grade products.
The ZD016 certificate as to condition contains the following attestations:
I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:
- In sound condition
- Of Australian origin.
5.3 Technical grade and pharmaceutical products
The ZD001 certificate as to condition may be issued for technical products and pharmaceutical material.
The ZD001 certificate contains the following attestations:
I certify to the best of my knowledge that the information on this form is true and correct in every particular details and that the product described above is of Australian origin and is acceptable for sale in Australia.
5.4 Animal feed
The ZD015 certificate as to condition for stockfood can be issued for stockfood made from milk and milk products.
The ZD015 certificate contains the following attestations:
I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge the conditions or restrictions applicable under the particular inspection system prescribed under the Export Control Act have been complied with in respect of the prescribed good described above, being goods that are:
- In sound condition
- Of Australian origin
5.5 Consignments under 10 kilograms and trade samples
It is the responsibility of exporters to determine through their importers if export certification is required for consignments and trade samples that are less than 10 kilograms or 10 litres, as an export permit is not required.
5.6 Additional certification/letters
The ZX01 certificate as to dioxin status of Australian dairy products is available on request.
European Union (EU) transit certificates are available for consignments transiting the EU. Refer to the EU documentation requirements for edible products for the reference numbers and attestations in these certificates.
6.1 Import permit
Import conditions
Exporters should ensure that their importer complies with any requirements to obtain a permit for imports into Egypt.
Exporters and their importer(s) are required to register with Egypt's Advance Cargo Information (ACI) pre-clearance system – the Nafeza Customs Single Window System which facilitates consignment clearance at the port of entry.
The import process and responsibilities of commercial parties under the Nafeza system are as follows:
| Steps | Responsibilities of commercial parties |
|---|---|
| 1. | The importer inputs consignment shipping data to the Nafeza system |
| 2. | The Egyptian Customs Authority will issue an ACID number and notify the importer and exporter within 48 hours. |
| 3. | The exporter will electronically upload all consignment shipping documentation with the ACID number referenced on all documents to the Nafeza system. |
| 4. | The importer certifies and acknowledges the accuracy of all consignment shipping documentation and data uploaded by the exporter. |
| 5. | The vessel is loaded with the shipment and departs exporting country. |
| 6. | The importer pays import taxes and fees. |
| 7. | The vessel arrives at Egypt port of entry, is inspected by a joint committee and cleared by the Egyptian customs Authority. |
6.2 Port-of-entry inspection and testing
7.1 Packaging
Egypt has no known specific requirements for packaging in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.
7.2 Labelling
For all halal certified milk and milk products, the IS EG halal mark and any specific IS EG Halal labelling requirements would need to be reflected on the packaging. Exporters should liaise with their importer to confirm details of IS EG halal labelling requirements. Refer to Halal Certification for further details on IS EG halal certification.
There are no other known specific requirements for labelling and packaging in addition to those provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.
7.3 Shelf life
Egypt has no known specific requirements for shelf life restrictions other than those provided in the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.
7.4 Shipping marks
Egypt has no known specific requirements for shipping marks (port marks).
7.5 Further information
Egypt has no known specific requirements for shipping and airfreight. Milk and milk products must be transported to ensure their condition and integrity is maintained in accordance with the requirements of the Export Control (Milk and Milk Products) Rules 2021.
8.1 Refrigeration, transfer and loadout
15/04/2025 - Update on exclusion for milk and milk products from halal certification requirements (section 5.1).
13/11/2024 - Updated information on halal certification implementation (section 5.1).
22/12/2023 - Update to halal certificate requirements (section 5).
28/09/2023 - Update to halal certificate requirements (section 5).
14/07/2023 - Updated residue statement to refer to importing country standards (section 4.1).
10/03/2023 - Updated commencement date of halal certification with IS EG Halal for milk and milk products (section 5.1.1).
19/10/2022 - Update to halal labelling (section 7.2)
13/07/2022 - Update to halal certification (section 5.1).
20/02/2022 - Content on this page may have changed location to conform to standard Dairy headings.
18/02/2022 - Update to new import process (ACI pre-clearance system) and IS EG halal certification (section 6).
07/02/2022 - Update to new import process (ACI pre-clearance system) and IS EG halal certification (section 5).
24/09/2021 - Removal and replacement of Dairy by Definition wording.
26/05/2021 - References to export legislation have been updated.
13/11/2024 - Updated information on halal certification implementation (section 5.1).
22/12/2023 - Update to halal certificate requirements (section 5).
28/09/2023 - Update to halal certificate requirements (section 5).
14/07/2023 - Updated residue statement to refer to importing country standards (section 4.1).
10/03/2023 - Updated commencement date of halal certification with IS EG Halal for milk and milk products (section 5.1.1).
19/10/2022 - Update to halal labelling (section 7.2)
13/07/2022 - Update to halal certification (section 5.1).
20/02/2022 - Content on this page may have changed location to conform to standard Dairy headings.
18/02/2022 - Update to new import process (ACI pre-clearance system) and IS EG halal certification (section 6).
07/02/2022 - Update to new import process (ACI pre-clearance system) and IS EG halal certification (section 5).
24/09/2021 - Removal and replacement of Dairy by Definition wording.
26/05/2021 - References to export legislation have been updated.