The first instance court at the State Council of Egypt (administrative court) in November last year upheld the claim of an Egyptian lawyer Tarek al-Awdi to ban the importation of wheat affected by ergot.

However, the Egyptian government has filed an appeal against this decision, consideration of which was scheduled for March 5. As explained by RIA Novosti close to the source process, at the forthcoming meeting of the court the government will present documents, which confirm the view of the office that the limited contents of the ergot in wheat is not a threat to health. "It is expected that the case will be adjourned so that the court reviewed the documents, after which it will decide whether to accept the appeal or reject it", — said the Agency interlocutor.

The official representative of the Ministry of supply Mamdouh Ramadan explained to RIA Novosti that Egypt continues to import wheat and to hold tenders in accordance with Egyptian and international standards. "Levels of ergot according to international standards should not exceed 0.05 per cent," he said. "We respect all the agreements in the framework of the announced tenders standards and conditions," — said the Egyptian representative.

Previously, Egypt had established a special Commission of representatives of the ministries of agriculture and supply, which should unify all of the existing requirements of various departments to imported wheat is subject to Egyptian specifications and international criteria, as well as to make a single control procedure grain.

Egypt is the largest wheat importer in the world and also one of the main buyers of Russian wheat.