TIMELINE-Egypt, Russia wheat spat

June 16 (Reuters) - Egypt's prosecutor is probing documents related to a Russian wheat cargo imported by private firm Egyptian Traders Co to determine if they are authentic or forged, the trade minister's legal adviser said.

Cargo inspector SGS (SGSN.VX) said a falsified SGS quality certificate had been used on the probed imported Russian wheat shipment, while the importer said documents relating to the shipment were definitely valid.

Wheat shipments from Russia have been under intense scrutiny in the most populous Arab country since mid-May when the prosecutor ordered an initial probe after the detection of dead bugs and impurities in some wheat imported by Egyptian Traders.

Below is a chronology of events surrounding the row:

June 15 - Egypt's agricultural quarantine authority says it has quality concerns over two Russian wheat shipments tested at the Mediterranean port of Damietta but that the wheat could be treated and released for distribution. [ID:nLF441333]

June 14 - Egypt's Social Solidarity Ministry says it has 4 million tonnes of wheat reserves to last until the end of 2009 and recent seizures of wheat shipments would not affect consumption. [ID:nLE704962]

June 11 - Hesham Ragab, legal adviser to Egypt's trade minister, says prosecutor probing papers linked to Russian wheat shipment imported by Egyptian Traders for possible forgery.

* Egyptian Traders chairman Ashraf El Attal says probe makes no sense as 52,500 tonne shipment held at Red Sea port of Safaga was already ordered re-exported by the prosecutor. [ID:nLB439154]

* Cargo inspector SGS (SGSN.VX) says a falsified SGS quality certificate has been used on the Russian wheat shipment imported by Egyptian Traders Co as it never inspected the cargo. [ID:nLB813040] [ID:nLB533772]

* The chairman of Egyptian Traders Co says documents for the shipment were "definitely" valid and that the case was becoming "too political". [ID:nLB350509]

June 10 - Shipment of 61,000 tonnes of Ukrainian corn held over quality concerns in Damietta, an Egyptian newspaper reports. [ID:nLA1003796]

June 9 - Russian animal and plant health watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor says agreed with Egypt that all exported grain to be accompanied by certificates issued by the state, not surveyor companies. [ID:nL9461541]

* Russian grain firm RIAS demands the return of 56,000 tonne wheat shipment imported by Egyptian Traders held in Safaga so it can sell the wheat, which it says it still owns, to buyers in Indonesia. [ID:nL855064]

June 7 - Egypt's prosecutor orders quarantined 52,500 tonne Russian wheat shipment, held at Safaga since May 13, re-exported and tells importer Egyptian Traders to repay $9.6 million to the main state wheat buyer, GASC.

* Trade Ministry says suspends all contracts with Egyptian Traders and is holding additional shipment of 56,000 tonnes Russian wheat imported by the firm at Safaga.

* Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov says only high quality wheat was sent to Egypt. [ID:nL7200129]

June 3 - Egypt quarantines 11,000 tonnes of Ukrainian and Australian wheat over quality concerns near the Mediterranean port of Alexandria, legal sources say. [ID:nL3727308]

* Trade Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid says agreed with Moscow to take joint measures against sub-quality wheat suppliers. [ID:nL31035897]

May 31 - Trade Minister Rachid says Egypt has no plans to stop importing Russian wheat or change quality specifications. [ID:nLV107413]

May 21 - Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Zubkov says Egypt's seizure of Russian grain is a misunderstanding by Cairo and hopes for a quick resolution.

* Egyptian newspaper says leaked health ministry document proves wheat shipment held at Safaga port is fit for human consumption.

* Russian Grain Union calls Egypt seizures of wheat provocative. [ID:nLL90690]

May 20 - Cargo of 30,000 tonnes of Russian wheat is held at Port Said port for inspection, an Egyptian newspaper reports.

* Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, on a trip to Moscow, says he hopes for a quick resolution to the dispute.

* Russia's animal and plant health watchdog says shipments sent to Egypt meet quality standards.

* Russian Grain Union says received no official complaint from Egyptian authorities about its wheat. [ID:nLK936603]

May 18 - Shipment of 30,000 tonnes of Russian wheat shipment held at Damietta port, an Egyptian newspaper reports.

* Egyptian Traders, which imported the first shipment to be held, says it will not send any more Russian wheat to Egypt unless the problem is resolved. [ID:nLI370304]

May 13 - Egypt's state prosecutor orders seizure of all Russian wheat in the country for health checks after a complaint that spoiled wheat entered the country at Safaga port.

* Shipment of 52,500 tonnes of Russian wheat quarantined at Safaga port.

* Russian Grain Union says the move is an attempt to force Russian suppliers to sell at lower prices. [ID:nLD857742]

(Writing by Maha El Dahan in Cairo, Editing by Veronica Brown))