Imported Pork Products In Egypt - Finally!

Pork products were fairly prevalent in Egypt before April 30th, 2009 when some 250,000 pigs were killed due to fears of a "swine flu" pandemic. At the time even UN WHO stated the actions taken to cull all the pigs was a mistake. Even calling the flu strain "Swine Flu", created by WHO proved to be a big error.  However, history shows the pigs disappeared as well as any imports. Here is link to history. 

Seems time heals, and some local pork products started to be available some months back, but at exorbitant prices. A new start up company GETCO STAR, of German Origin, has now been established in Maadi, Digla area. All products are imported, and I understand to obtain import licensing plus Health Ministry approvals was no easy feat.

I wish them all the good fortune and look forward to my crispy streak bacon with poached eggs on toast. Yummy !

Egypt Customs and Pork Products - Be Aware!

Friend told me he had to remove his pork products, himself, at airport and put in rubbish bin. So be aware, it is a banned substance. Another example of the sectarian disinformation posture the authorities have adopted. Even WHO apologized for naming the virus Swine Flu, and retracted to proper name H1N1, and from videos, like the one below, UN agencies have threatened to ban livestock imports to Egypt.

Want to see a disgusting "pig killing" video found at Al Masry News Portal and this link

Revenge of the Egyptian Pigs

If killing (culling is a misnomer) all pigs in Egypt had Sectarian undertones, under the misguided excuse of Swine Flu, then it has back fired. See this latest article from News copied below.

The youtube video that created outrage is at this link or search youtube.

Clerics Attack the Cull of Live Pigs, International Organizations Demonstrate to Call on Egypt to Be Sanctioned

By Metwally Salem, Amr Bayoumi, Maha El-Bahnasawi and Darren Farghali 17/ 5/ 2009

In an exclusive report yesterday, Al-Masry Al-Youm unveiled how pigs were killed and buried alive. This report, its video and its pictures have sparked heated reactions, as clerics have said the Islamic Shariah does not allow what was happening, while Agriculture Minister Amin Abaza has shrugged off any responsibility.

International human rights organizations announced they would stage demonstrations during President Mubarak's visit to the US.

Dr. Mahmoud Mihni, President of Al-Azhar University in Assiut, said culling pigs by using chemical products ran contrary to the teachings of Islam, while Dr. Munie Abdel Halim, dean of the Faculty of Religious Fundamentals, said this discredited Islam abroad.

Father Mattias, priest at the Virgin Church in Izbat El-Nakhl, said: "The decision to cull pigs was sectarian", while Animal Care Societies in Egypt slammed the Governorate of Qalyubia.

These societies said they intended to file a complaint against the Egyptian government to the World Organization for Animal Health in Paris. This could result in serious sanctions, especially a halt to the export of live animals to Egypt.

Agriculture Minister Amin Abaza said that he had no information on those facts, and that he would contact the governors to stop those illegal practices.

"Egypt is a civilized state, and we won't allow a few offenders to discredit it" he said.

Translated from the Arabic by Eltorjoman International