Egypt Cancels Ergot Zero-tolerance Policy for Wheat
Egypt has reversed a controversial zero-tolerance policy on ergot fungus in wheat, the cabinet said on Wednesday, after receiving no offers in the previous three international tenders.
The government is reinstating the 0.05 percent international standard which will apply to all outstanding and future wheat contracts. It will contract an international firm to conduct ergot inspections on wheat shipments, it said in a statement.
The zero-tolerance policy had led to the suspension of 540,000 tonnes of wheat shipments, the government said. Egypt is the world's largest importer of wheat.
(Writing by Ahmed Aboulenein)
