November 26, 2007

Pakistani seafood: still no access to EU

Despite intensified moves of Islamabad authorities to convince EU to lift its ban on Pakistani seafood, no concrete results have been attained yet.

The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) estimated Pakistan's export potential at US$1 billion per year.

EU's current ban is causing Pakistan annual loss of around US$100 million.

The federal government holds Sindh responsible for the ban as it is the provincial government's responsibility to upgrade boats based on required standards.

The province of Sindh owns the fish harbours and jetties where boats offload their catch.

To remedy the situation, the federal government will shoulder 50 percent of the expenses incurred in upgrading the boats. Government officials are continuously exhausting efforts on re-gaining the EU market, as it is the fourth largest customer to Pakistani seafood.

According to reports, the EU evaluated 10 companies, out of which, 3 were found better than the others. However, the three would still have to meet with the requirements of traceability.

Pakistani seafood has been banned from EU from the start of this year.