The European Union (EU) has extended the ban on selected Egyptian seeds and beans, which was imposed following the deadly E.coli outbreaks in Europe earlier this year.

Picture from http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/everyday/agriculture/ecoli.html
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The European Commission has extended the ban until 31 March 2012, due to the inefficiency of the procedures taken by Egyptian authorities to ensure the integrity of grain and plant exports.

Seeds and beans from Egypt that are prohibited from being circulated freely in the EU until 31 March 2012 are:

  • rocket sprouts
  • beetroot sprouts, radish sprouts
  • sprouts of leguminous vegetables, fresh or chilled
  • soya bean sprouts
  • dried leguminous vegetables, shelled, whether or not skinned or split
  • fenugreek seed
  • soya beans, whether or not broken
  • mustard seeds
  • other oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, whether or not broken
  • sugar beet seed
  • lucerne (alfalfa) seed
  • vegetable seeds
  • lucerne (alfalfa) sprouts
Imports of fresh and chilled peas and beans will be allowed, as the EU ban on these items was lifted in October.
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