The Ministry of Industry and Foreign Trade is implementing an ambitious plan to magnify the role of authorities tasked with assessing the quality of Egyptian products with a view to boosting the competitive capabilities of the national industry and protecting the health of consumers, minister Tarek Qabil said on Friday.

The ministry is following up the implementation of the plan on monthly basis to stand on the achievements realized so far, Qabil said, adding that applying quality methodologies has become essential in light of the challenges posed by the free market.

In July, Qabil received detailed reports about the performance indicators of the Egyptian Organization for Standards & Quality (EOS), the Industrial Control Authority (ICA) and the Chemistry Administration.

The EOS has undertaken periodic inspection for quality marks of 58 companies and assessed quality standards of 15 companies, EOS Chairman Mohamed Abdel Mottaleb Etman said.

Meanwhile, ICA chairman Ibrahim el Mansterli said that the industrial body has carried out 708 field inspections and conducted 277 technical and economic studies.

Up to 2,171 samples have been examined by the 
Chemistry Administration throughout July, Chairman of the administration Magdy Fahmy said.