Trade and Industry Minister Tarek Kabil issued a decree establishing a new registry of approved foreign manufactures of consumer goods imported into Egypt, Al Shorouk reported. Goods imported from non-registered manufacturers will not be cleared through customs. Conditions for admittance to the new registry include stricter quality and safety standards and scores for impact on labor and the environment. Companies will have two months to sign up before the registry comes to effect. The move comes as part of new directives issued by Kabil to curb imports of ‘non-essential’ consumer goods. Mohamed El Sewedy, head of the Federation of Egyptian Industries, who has long lobbied for stricter controls on consumer goods imports, welcomed the measures, Al Mal reports. (Al Shorouk, Enterprise)