The General Authority for Fish Resources Development (GAFRD) has successfully renewed the accreditation of the Central Laboratories for Fisheries by the Egyptian Accreditation Council (EGAC), in accordance with the requirements of the international standard ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for testing and calibration laboratories.
This achievement comes as part of the State’s strategy to enhance the efficiency of its institutions and implement the directives of the political leadership to develop the fish production sector, ensure the provision of safe food for consumers, and continuously support the development of the central laboratories for fisheries under the leadership of Major General Engineer Hussein Farhat, Executive Director of the Authority. These laboratories play a key role in conducting periodic inspections for aquaculture projects, ensuring compliance with standards, and maintaining the highest levels of quality for fish products through traceability and coding systems.
The first surveillance visit for the Central Laboratories took place on Tuesday, 23 September 2025, and the EGAC assessment team included:
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Eng. Mohamed Adel Rizk – Lead Assessor
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Dr. Mohamed El-Sayed Amer – Technical Assessor (Chemical Testing)
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Dr. Mohamed Tawfiq Abdel-Ghani – Technical Assessor (Microbiological Testing)
Following the visit, the committee recommended renewal of the accreditation in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017, covering nine (9) accredited tests that support the aquaculture sector. The review included the following laboratories and test methods:
🔹 Water and Soil Quality Laboratory:
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pH measurement
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Electrical conductivity
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Dissolved oxygen
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Iron concentration
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Copper concentration
🔹 Microbiology Laboratory:
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Detection of Vibrio bacteria in fish
🔹 Feed and Food Laboratory:
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Determination of protein content in feed
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Determination of fat content in feed
🔹 Parasitology Laboratory:
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Detection of parasites in fish
The accreditation of this parasitology test marks a first among accredited laboratories, given its importance in the early diagnosis and treatment of fish diseases.
Major General Hussein Farhat, Executive Director of GAFRD, expressed his sincere appreciation to all laboratory staff for their dedicated efforts, particularly the Quality Management Department, headed by Eng. Walaa Magdy, Eng. Eman Abdel-Khaleq, Ms. Dina Ahmed, Chem. Nermin Abdel-Halim, Ms. Mona Desouky, and Mr. Mohamed Sultan;
as well as the Veterinary Department, headed by Dr. Amani Ahmed, Dr. Khadija Mahmoud, and Dr. Asmaa Mahmoud;
the General Department of Research, headed by Ms. Asmaa Abdel-Samie and Chem. Heba Emad El-Din;
and the Nutrition Department, headed by Eng. Heba Saleh, Eng. Shaimaa Salah Desouky, and Eng. Aya Afifi;
with the Parasitology Laboratory supervised by Dr. Dawlat Aly.
This renewed accreditation enhances the laboratories’ technical competence and supports their role in providing high-quality analytical and consultancy services to the aquaculture sector. It also ensures the efficiency and reliability of testing results, contributing to fish product safety and reinforcing the laboratories’ position among Egyptian facilities accredited by EGAC, which is a full member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).
Source: Akhbar Misr – Sunday, 28 September 2025.
