Egypt's imports watchdog has seized a large batch of Russian wheat over claims it is of poor quality, an Egyptian newspaper wrote Sunday.
Al Masry Al Youm quoted the Egyptian imports control organization's sanitary committee as saying the 61,000-metric-ton batch worth $12.6 million contains more spoilt grain and insects than is allowed by the country's norms.
The importer company has asked the authorities to release the batch. It pledged to pay for grain sifting and to make it conform to Egyptian standards at bakeries that the company said have long been waiting for the Russian wheat.
Egypt is one of the world's biggest wheat importers, annually buying over 5 million tons of grain from other countries, mainly from Russia, which accounts for some 33% of the supplies.
The African country, which purchases grain mainly through private Egyptian companies, bought $700 million worth of wheat in Russia in 2008.
Egyptian sanitary services often complain of Russian wheat's quality, but Russia says the complaints are unjustified.
Russia and Egypt are currently holding talks to develop a single wheat quality certificate, to be recognized by both countries.
MOSCOW, June 6 (RIA Novosti)
