Onions Inspection in Fayoum, Egypt

Pre-shipment onion inspection in Fayoum — ISO 17020-accredited quality control by FoodGate Audit. Giza 6 cultivar focus, February to August season.

About Onions from Fayoum

Region overview: Oasis governorate southwest of Cairo, surrounding Lake Qarun. Specialized agricultural region with unique microclimate.

Climate: Hot desert with moderating influence from the lake and high water table. Significant temperature differential between day and night, ideal for fruit sugar accumulation.

Cultivars exported from Fayoum: Giza 6, Giza 20, Red Creole, Texas Grano.

Export season: February to August.

Typical export value: €0.20-0.60 per kg FOB.

Top buyer countries: Russia, EU, UK, Far East, Gulf.

Logistics from Fayoum

2-3 hours to Cairo Airport, 4 hours to Alexandria. Limited cold-chain transport options compared to Delta regions.

Pre-shipment inspection considerations

MRL focus areas for onions from this region: Maleic hydrazide, Spinetoram, Acetamiprid. FoodGate recommends pesticide residue testing at accredited laboratories before EU/UK shipments, particularly for first-time suppliers or new cultivars.

Common defects to inspect for: Sprouting, neck rot (Botrytis allii), bacterial soft rot, double bulbs, splits.

Expected shelf life: 90-180 days under proper cold-chain conditions.

Region-specific notes: Smaller scale than Sharqia or Beheira but high quality. Many packhouses are family-run; FoodGate verifies traceability and HACCP plans particularly carefully.

FoodGate Audit's process for onion inspections in Fayoum

  1. Briefing: client shares cultivar, sizing, MRL targets, packaging spec, target market.
  2. Scheduling: inspection booked at the packhouse 24-48h ahead of container loading.
  3. On-site inspection: ISO 2859 sampling, visual inspection, sizing, brix (where applicable), peel/skin assessment, packaging integrity.
  4. Photo documentation: 40+ photos covering pallet condition, individual fruits, defects observed, container loading.
  5. Sampling for laboratory (if required): pesticide residue, mycotoxin, microbiological — composite samples per Commission Directive 2002/63/EC.
  6. Report delivery: PDF report in your inbox within 24 hours of inspection completion.

Pricing

Every inspection is quoted individually based on shipment size and scope, with volume discounts for ongoing partnerships. Free quote within 24 hours.

Request a Free Quote → Learn more about Pre-Shipment Inspection

Related coverage

FoodGate Audit covers all major Egyptian agricultural regions and all major export categories. See also:

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