Previous shipments rejected had been inspected in Egypt and were all purchased by the private sector except for a French wheat shipment sold to GASC by Bunge that was rejected in December. Ergot, a common grains fungus that can cause hallucinations when consumed in large amounts, is considered harmless in low quantities and more common international standards allow a 0.05 percent ergot tolerance level in wheat imports. Egypt's state wheat import purchasing agency GASC had previously sought a 0.05 percent tolerance level for ergot. There is a problem with Russian wheat at Novorossiysk and with another Romanian shipment as well." "Traders trying to supply on the basis of a contract signed with an ergot tolerance level face a rejection of their shipments anyway and big financial losses.

Source: Egypt Independent September 07, 2016 17:26 UTC