In 1898, the Department of Chemistry was established by the decision of the Board of Governors as a government lab to examine the Egyptian government imports of foodstuffs, clothing, products, all agricultural products and raw materials.

In 1916, the Department of Jewelery Stamping was incorporated into it. In 1921, the state oil refinery was incorporated in Suez.

     In 1930 a branch of the Alexandria Department was established to determine customs duties and control imports to protect the national industry.