Buying herbs from Egypt follows the same seven steps for almost every product: agree a specification, approve a sample, confirm the tests, contract, approve the pre-shipment lot, ship, and release with the right documents.
1. Write a clear specification
State the product and botanical name, plant part, grade or cut size, moisture, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, purity or foreign matter, microbiology, and the contaminant limits of your market. A specification tied to one form (for example “peppermint TBC 0.5–2 mm”) prevents most disputes.
2. Approve a type sample
Ask for a representative sample of the grade, then a pre-shipment sample of the actual lot. Keep a retained sample of the approved lot.
3. Agree laboratory testing
- Pesticide residues against your market’s limits – in the EU Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.
- Contaminants – in the EU Regulation (EU) 2023/915 covers, among others, PAHs, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, ochratoxin A and lead in herbs and spices.
- Microbiology – total plate count, yeasts and moulds, E. coli and Salmonella, depending on whether the product is heat-treated by the buyer.
Agree who tests, where (preferably an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory) and whether results are needed before loading.
4. Contract terms
Confirm quantity, price basis (Incoterm, for example FOB or CIF), shipment period, payment terms, packing and labelling. Egyptian herbs are usually shipped from the Mediterranean ports of Alexandria, Damietta or Port Said.
5. Export documents
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice and packing list | Customs value and contents of each package |
| Bill of lading (or air waybill) | Transport contract and title to the goods |
| Certificate of origin | Proof of Egyptian origin; preferential origin certificates (for example EUR.1 for the EU) can reduce import duty where an agreement applies |
| Phytosanitary certificate | Issued by the Egyptian plant-quarantine authority when the destination requires it for the product |
| Certificate of analysis (COA) | Lot results against the agreed specification |
Requirements differ by country and product, so confirm them with your customs broker before the first shipment.
6. Packing
Leaves and flowers are bulky: herbs are commonly packed in woven polypropylene or paper bags, and delicate flowers such as chamomile in cartons. Seeds go in 25–50 kg PP or jute bags. Ask for bag weights and labels to match your warehouse system, and for clean, dry, odour-free containers.
7. Arrival and release
Check the seal, condition and weight on arrival, and compare an arrival sample with the approved pre-shipment sample. Keep all COAs and documents for traceability.
ONIC prepares samples, COAs and export documents for buyers in many markets. Contact the export team or browse all products.
Quick answers
Which documents are needed to import herbs from Egypt?
Usually a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin and a certificate of analysis; a phytosanitary certificate is added when the destination requires it for the product.
Which ports are used to ship herbs from Egypt?
Mainly the Mediterranean ports of Alexandria, Damietta and Port Said.
Source from ONIC
Send your specification, quantity and destination port – we reply with a quotation and can send samples.