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(Adds details from Bunge, background)
By Tom Polansek
CHICAGO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Bunge Ltd
Egypt, the world's largest wheat importer, has in recent weeks fueled confusion in the global wheat market about whether it would accept shipments with any presence of ergot, a fungus.
The quality of a cargo of French wheat that Bunge, one of the world's top grain traders, shipped to Egypt met terms of a tender that allowed a maximum of 0.05 percent ergot at loading, according to the company.
"While the cargo's quality has been called into question, the facts are clear," Bunge said in a statement. The company did not say where it had started legal proceedings.
Quality certificates for the cargo were signed by a surveyor nominated and appointed by Egypt's General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), Bunge said.
Further, a phytosanitary certificate issued by French authorities and certificates issued by an Egyptian delegation "prove compliance of the cargo with Egyptian requirements and regulations," the company said.
On Sunday, Egypt sought to reassure wheat markets after confusion over the allowed limits of ergot fungus rattled traders and forced the state grain buyer to cancel two tenders.
In a bid to win back confidence, the ministries of supply and agriculture held a joint press conference and affirmed they would accept all shipments with less than 0.05 percent ergot.
(Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by David Gregorio) ((Thomas.Polansek@thomsonreuters.com; +1-312-408-8556; Twitter: @tpolansek; Reuters Messaging: thomas.polansek.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Keywords: BUNGE WHEAT/EGYPT
By Tom Polansek
CHICAGO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Bunge Ltd
Egypt, the world's largest wheat importer, has in recent weeks fueled confusion in the global wheat market about whether it would accept shipments with any presence of ergot, a fungus.
The quality of a cargo of French wheat that Bunge, one of the world's top grain traders, shipped to Egypt met terms of a tender that allowed a maximum of 0.05 percent ergot at loading, according to the company.
"While the cargo's quality has been called into question, the facts are clear," Bunge said in a statement. The company did not say where it had started legal proceedings.
Quality certificates for the cargo were signed by a surveyor nominated and appointed by Egypt's General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), Bunge said.
Further, a phytosanitary certificate issued by French authorities and certificates issued by an Egyptian delegation "prove compliance of the cargo with Egyptian requirements and regulations," the company said.
On Sunday, Egypt sought to reassure wheat markets after confusion over the allowed limits of ergot fungus rattled traders and forced the state grain buyer to cancel two tenders.
In a bid to win back confidence, the ministries of supply and agriculture held a joint press conference and affirmed they would accept all shipments with less than 0.05 percent ergot.
(Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by David Gregorio) ((Thomas.Polansek@thomsonreuters.com; +1-312-408-8556; Twitter: @tpolansek; Reuters Messaging: thomas.polansek.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Keywords: BUNGE WHEAT/EGYPT
