CAIRO: Egypt's state news agency MENA on Thursday quoted an agriculture ministry official as denying an earlier report that Cairo had banned the import and export of genetically modified crops.

The unnamed official was quoted as saying "reports published by some newspapers and foreign press agencies … are not true."

On Wednesday, MENA reported that Agriculture Minister Amin Abaza had given instructions that all crop imports to the country, especially wheat, corn and soya bean shipments, must be certified free of GM products.

Egypt is the most populous Arab country and one of the world's largest wheat importers. Last year, Cairo approved the cultivation of genetically modified corn. –AFP