Analysis of Egypts Import Regulatory Framework

The Egyptian Customs Authority (NCS)equipment. For example, Indonesia has the SNI certification, Thailand has the TISI certification, and the Philippines has the BPS certification. It is necessary to confirm in advance the equipment voltage (such as 380V/50Hz in Thailand), the compatibility of the CE certification, and the proof of environmentally friendly materials.implementationa dual regulatory system: Adheres to the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement requirements while retaining distinctive technical trade measures. ThePresidential Decree No. 117effective in 2025 clearly requires that equipment import agents must complete:

• Pre-registration with the Industrial Development Authority of Egypt (IDAI)
• The scope of mandatory quality certification (COI) has been expanded to cover 38 categories of equipment
• Electronic integration with the Customs Value Verification System (CVVS)

Practical Breakdown of Customs Clearance Process

Taking injection molding equipment arriving CIF Alexandria as an example:

• Document pre-review stage
  • Commercial invoices must indicate the country of origin HS code (newly added 8422.1990 in 2025 version)
  • Packing lists must include equipment serial numbers and power parameters
• Key points for customs declaration
  • Declared value must not be lower than 85% of the Egyptian local market reference price
  • Used equipment requires documentation proving years of service

Response to High-Risk Scenarios

Customs clearance obstruction cases from January to May 2025 show:

• Document non-compliance cases accounted for 42%: A Chinese companys laser cutting machine was detained due to failure to update ISO13849 certification
• Classification disputes accounted for 31%: A multi-functional machining center was mistakenly classified under heading 8479, resulting in a 12% tariff difference
• Value disputes accounted for 27%: Customs questioned the declared equipment value, triggering a 45-day price verification process

2025 policy change alerts

The Egyptian Customs Authority recently released aWhite Paper on Technical Trade Measuresrevealing:

• Non-electric equipment imports require additional energy efficiency certification
• Electromechanical products must bear mandatory Arabic safety labels
• The standard for calculating port demurrage fees will adopt a new formula: (Cargo value × 0.5%) + (Days × 200 EGP)

Golden Rules for Agent Selection

High-quality agency service providers should possess:

• Localized customs clearance network: Maintains AEO-certified warehouses in Alexandria and Port Said
• Emergency response mechanism: Completes preparation of response documents for customs inquiries within 72 hours
• Compliance guarantee system: Provides full-cycle risk control from HS pre-classification to tax refund applications