Retailers that withhold rice risk up to a year in jail and fines of up to EGP 2 million
The Egyptian cabinet has adopted a draught resolution that will treat rice as a strategic commodity in order to stop shopkeepers from denying citizens access to rice through concealment, refusal to offer it for sale, or any other means.
According to this ruling, everyone who owns rice for non-personal, commercial purposes, including producers, distributors, and retailers, is required to declare the types and amounts of rice to the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade in order to maintain fair trade.
A fine of between EGP 100,000 and EGP 2,000,000 and up to one year in jail are the penalties for breaking these consumer protection laws.
