Egyptian authorities take tough stance on bakeries to enforce bread price regulations

Egyptian authorities have initiated a rigorous enforcement campaign aimed at ensuring bakeries comply with state-mandated price controls on bread, a crucial staple for the nation’s 114 million people.

Agents have been dispatched across Al Obour, a satellite city of Cairo, to conduct inspections of bakeries producing non-subsidized bread, commonly referred to as tourists’ bread.

The task is to verify that these bakeries adhere to the prescribed weight and price regulations, as stated in a statement from the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA).

According to reports, several bakeries in the capital have raised their prices significantly in recent weeks. The cost of a loaf, which was previously 2 Egyptian pounds, has surged to 2.50 pounds in some areas, while others have hiked prices from 2.50 to 3 pounds.

Despite a significant reduction in the price of flour since late last month, with costs dropping by over a third to 14,000 Egyptian pounds per tonne, the crackdown on bread prices continues.

A ministerial directive issued this month established price caps for various types of bread, including tourist bread and fino bread, an Egyptian variant of the French baguette.

Bakery owners have attributed price disparities to differences in the quality of flour used and variations in shop rent.

During inspections in the Cairo suburb, the CPA uncovered 16 violations, including failure to display prices on labels, tampering with loaf weights, and selling above official prices. Violators have been referred to the public prosecutor for further action.

This enforcement drive comes in the wake of reports that free-market bakeries, operating independently from government-subsidized bakeries, had not adjusted prices for consumers despite the decrease in flour costs. Some bakers admitted to disregarding government warnings and setting prices based on market dynamics.

With Egypt’s inflation rate still exceeding 30 percent, the reduction of staple costs such as bread remains a significant economic and political priority.