Egypt cracks down on feed fraud to safeguard farmers and food supply

EGYPT – Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture has launched a nationwide crackdown on fraudulent animal feed, responding to mounting complaints from farmers about adulterated products and escalating costs. 

The initiative, announced this week, is designed to protect livestock health, stabilise production costs, and strengthen the country’s food security.

“In light of the widespread illegal practices in the market, such as the trade in adulterated or unknown-source feed, there is an urgent need for decisive state intervention,” the Ministry said in a statement posted on its official Facebook page.

Officials stressed that the campaign is part of a broader plan to “restore discipline on the feed market” and ease pressure on farmers struggling with high prices and poor-quality inputs. 

For months, poultry and livestock producers have voiced frustration over inconsistent feed supplies, which they argue threaten both productivity and profitability.

Studies have long highlighted the scale of the problem. According to consultancy AgEconSearch, Egypt’s broiler farms require, on average, 2.7 tonnes of feed to produce one tonne of liveweight, compared with about 2 tonnes in more developed countries. Analysts estimate that improving feed efficiency could cut costs by as much as 25%.

Inspections yield early results

Initial inspections have already uncovered significant violations, according to Mohamed El-Qersh, media advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture.

“Inspection teams, in cooperation with the Supply Investigations Department and regulatory authorities, have detected numerous violations, including the circulation of feed of unknown origin, expired feed, or feed stored in unsanitary conditions,” El-Qersh said. 

He added that seized products were removed from circulation, and violators now face fines or prison terms.

But El-Qersh emphasised that punishment is not the ultimate goal. Instead, the campaign seeks to “level the playing field” by fostering fair competition and encouraging legitimate investment in the feed sector. 

Authorities believe that restoring order will have knock-on benefits throughout the food supply chain, making the system more reliable and safer for consumers.

Farmers welcome the crackdown

Farmer representatives have received the campaign positively.

“We strongly support the inspection campaigns launched against feed sellers, especially in light of the significant rise in feed prices and ongoing doubts about the quality of some products circulating on the market,” said Hussein Abu Saddam, head of the Farmers Syndicate.

He warned that adulterated feed harms not only livestock health but also the quality of meat and dairy products. 

“Poor or adulterated feed not only affects animal health, but also leads to a decline in the quality of meat and dairy, harming agricultural and food production in general,” Saddam noted.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.