Egypt gains first EU approval for farmed seafood exports

Egypt has received approval to export aquaculture products to the European Union for the first time, according to the country’s National Food Safety Authority (NFSA).

The authority said Egypt had been added to the list of countries authorised to export farmed seafood products to EU member states after completing technical requirements linked to food safety and veterinary controls.

The approval covers finfish and related products as well as crustaceans, opening access for Africa's largest aquaculture producer to one of the world’s largest seafood import markets.

According to the NFSA, a nationwide system for monitoring veterinary drug residues was introduced as part of the process to comply with European standards. The authority said the approval followed coordination between several Egyptian agencies and cooperation with international partners.

The decision is due to be formally adopted during the third quarter of 2026 and will take effect 20 days after ratification, the authority said.

In its announcement, the authority said Egyptian officials are still continuing work on regulatory and technical procedures ahead of implementation, including approving production facilities, expanding laboratory testing capacity and introducing traceability systems for exported products.

The NFSA added that Egypt is also preparing technical documentation and guarantees for composite food products containing ingredients such as dairy or other animal-derived components, ahead of further regulatory amendments later this year.

"This development reflects the growing confidence in Egypt’s food safety system and confirms the state’s commitment to applying the highest standards of quality and food safety, which supports national exports and contributes to enhancing economic growth," the Authority stated in the announcement.

Egypt is the leading aquaculture producer in Africa, generating 1.6 million tons of fish annually, valued at USD 3.5 billion, according to the latest figures from WorldFish.

Aquaculture accounts for 80% of fish production in Egypt, primarily from private farms, with tilapia the most widely-farmed species. The sector employs approximately 300,000 people.