Can my imported supplements be seized in Egypt for missing Arabic labels, and how can I appeal?

Hello there, 

Indeed, not placing a label in Arabic is considered a violation of several laws in Egypt.

But let's differentiate between two cases here, 

Is the Arabic label is completly missing? Or are there some errors or some missing information?

Was a report filed against your company by the customs authority? Or was the shipment just seized by the authority without an official legal form or action?

Can you provide us with detailed information, just like the details of the shipment, its quantity, the country of origin and the time of seizure? 

Thank you for your inquiry. We are ready to take care of the matter.

Adham Abdelaziz 

Alraheely Law Firm

Yes — in Egypt, your shipment of dietary supplements may be detained upon arrival at customs ports if the labeling does not include the Arabic language or does not comply with the standards of the competent regulatory authorities. This is because Egyptian laws and regulations require that the essential product information be written in Arabic on the packaging before the goods are marketed or distributed in the local market.
First: Legal Position
Dietary supplements in Egypt are subject to the supervision of the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) pursuant to Law No. 1 of 2017. The shipment has been detained for two main reasons:
1.    Absence of labeling in the Arabic language.
2.    Non-compliant claims:
The Authority prohibits the inclusion of any claims suggesting that the supplement “treats” or “cures” a specific disease. Such claims are considered medical claims that reclassify the product from a “dietary supplement” to a “medicinal product,” which would require registration with the Egyptian Drug Authority.
Second: Legal Procedures for Release or Appeal
If a decision is issued rejecting the shipment or imposing an administrative penalty, you are entitled to take the following steps:
1.    Administrative Grievance (Grievance Committee):
•    A formal grievance request may be submitted to the Grievance Committee of the National Food Safety Authority within 15 days from the date of notification or from the date of knowledge of the decision.
•    The Committee shall decide on the grievance within 15 days from the date of submission.
2.    Required Documents (by way of example, not limitation):
•    Original commercial invoice and bill of lading.
•    Certificate of origin.
•    Certificate of analysis issued by the manufacturer’s laboratory.
•    Copy of the importer’s card and proof of registration in the importers’ registry with the Authority.
Third: References
These procedures are based on the following laws and regulations:
1.    Law No. 1 of 2017 concerning the establishment of the National Food Safety Authority.
2.    NFSA Board of Directors Resolution No. 6 of 2020 regarding the rules governing the registration and circulation of dietary supplements.
3.    NFSA Board of Directors Resolution No. 7 of 2020 regarding the rules governing control over imported food products.
4.    Executive Regulations of the Import and Export Law (Ministerial Decree No. 770 of 2005), as amended, which regulate the handling of goods rejected on regulatory grounds.
5.    Egyptian Standard Specification No. 1546 concerning food product labeling requirements.