Fish shipments to Saudi Arabia were disease free; Minister

CAIRO – 4 August 2017: Egypt’s live fish shipments to Saudi Arabia were temporarily suspended for purely technical reasons not over safety concerns, Chairman of General Authority for Fish Resources Development Dr. Khaled Abdel Aziz el Hosni announced on Thursday.

The minister further clarified that live fish shipments were free of any diseases.

Saudi Arabia called on Egypt to ensure that live fish exports be carried out within the international safety and health standards set forth by five accredited firms.

Earlier in March, Saudi Arabia suspended importing live fish from its suppliers around the world, including Egypt, amid growing threats of Lake Virus that attacks tilapia fish, particularly in the Middle East and South America.

Egypt is the largest supplier of fish farms in Africa.