October 4, 2006

Pakistan suspends major seafood export route to EU

Pakistan's Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) has stopped the Karachi Fish Harbour from processing fish and shrimp supplies for export to the EU after saying that handling of seafood at the harbour was not meeting EU requirements.

The ban would remain until conditions are improved, the MFD said.

The suspension would sharply reduce Pakistan's seafood to the EU as around 70-80 percent of exported seafood has to go through the harbour.

The ban comes barely a year after a debilitating seven-month ban on EU exports last year.

The MFD had refused to issue health certificates to processors shipping to the EU last month, citing unhygienic conditions at the harbour. KFHA had been repeatedly asked to improve the conditions as required by the EU.

Now, seafood export to the EU could only continue under the Vendor Assurance Programme implemented on catches from ships supplying the facilities. However, its future hangs in the balance as officials of the MFD would be inspecting handling facilities at boats to ensure their compliance.

Managing Director KFHA Dr Nawaz Baloch said it was only a temporary suspension and not a permanent ban, adding that the harbour is trying its best to improve the situation.