GASC insists zero-tolerance policy on ergot will not return

GASC insists zero-tolerance policy on ergot isn’t coming back: The General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) is adamant that Egypt’s zero-tolerance on ergot contamination in wheat imports is not about to make a return. GASC Vice Chairman Ahmed Youssef told Reuters on Saturday that the administrative court’s ruling of last Tuesday, which reinstated the Agriculture Quarantine Authority (the body that had imposed the zero-tolerance policy), was purely an administrative and procedural ruling and would have no real impact on policy. The news comes as Egypt bought 360k tonnes of wheat from Russia and Romania, Al Mal reports, bringing to about 500k tons Egypt’s total purchases in the last month. Egypt does not typically wheat import during the domestic harvest season, but Reuters suggests the buying spree is coming ahead of a possible policy showdown ahead of the next court session on Tuesday.