SGS Egypt gets GEOIC & EGAC accreditations

27 Apr '12

2 min read

SGS Consumer Testing Services (SGS) is accredited by the GEOIC and the Egyptian Accreditation Council (EGAC) as a third-party inspection company for this purpose, a mandate extended to very few companies. SGS can assess the conformity of your non-food products against all Egyptian and international standards, as applicable.

Towards the end of 2011, the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry (MFTI) issued two ministerial decrees requiring an inspection certificate for every shipment of textiles and leather products imported into Egypt:

Ministerial Decree 626/2011
• Textiles and garments
• Readymade clothes
• Linens and textiles used in the manufacture of garments
• Dyed and colored yarns
• Carpets and carpet floor coverings
• Home textiles

Ministerial Decree 660/2011
• Natural leather
• Synthetic leather
• Shoes and their parts
• Bags

Two certification schemes are available to comply with these requirements:

Option 1 - Inspection of each consignment
Every consignment is physically inspected at origin by an approved third-party inspection company such as SGS. Prior to shipment, samples of products must be analyzed by an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory to demonstrate they comply with Egyptian Standards. Providing they do, a Certificate of Inspection is issued for each consignment.

Option 2 - Registration with GOEIC
Importers (local agents, client representatives and retailers) may register with GOEIC, provided they can supply the following:

1. Enter a written request for registration with GOEIC, containing the names of
producers and products to be imported
2. Produce a certificate affirming the legal status of all producers
3. Provide evidence or a certificate demonstrating that the producers possess
licenses for all brands/products from all the countries they are produced in
4. Submit a certificate attesting that all manufacturing facilities have a quality control
system in place
5. Provide confirmation the products comply with all relevant Egyptian standards

With the registration option, it is only valid for six months. To demonstrate compliance with the last two points above, a producer must produce a Certificate of Audit issued by a GOEIC accredited third-party inspection company such as SGS, in addition to the relevant testing reports. Just as with registration, the audit certificate must also be renewed every six months.

Shipments imported under option 2 have to obtain an inspection certificate directly from GOEIC upon arrival of goods. Cargoes are also subject to random inspection by GOEIC.

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With 70'000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1'350 offices and laboratories around the world.

SGS Egypt

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