June 8, 2007

 

Pakistan sees hopes that EU would soon lift seafood ban

 

 

Sources in Pakistan said that the EU may soon lift its seafood ban on the country despite its refusal to send an inspection team to Pakistan.

 

In fact, it has authorized the Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) in its capacity as local agent to deal with the matter.

 

The MFD is closely working with local seafood exporters and has already issued some new guidelines for seafood processing plants.

 

However, additional measures to be taken by Sindh government have yet to be implemented and the delay thus caused could create hurdles in the lifting of the EU ban.

 

Pakistan had failed EU inspections last year, resulting in a ban this year.

 

A planned inspection in January was cancelled as the Karachi Fish Harbour, the main point of export for Pakistan seafood was still in unsanitary conditions.

 

The Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) had requested the EU inspections to be postponed until April 2007, a request which was rejected.

 

Almost a-third of Pakistan's seafood goes to the EU.

 

The MFD is expected to submit its report in the second week of June. It will be only after its approval by the European Commission's Food and Veterinary officials that prospects of lifting of the export ban might brighten.

 

As the government was said to be paying scant attention to the sector, processing plants were said to be coordinating with MFD on their own.

 

Despite the ban, Pakistani exporters were grateful that EU authorities had in fact extended its assistance on ways to improve its seafood exports.