December 26, 2006

EU likely to ban Pakistan seafood
 

The EU is likely to impose a ban on Pakistan seafood export as the authorities concerned have failed to meet the specific standards set by EU.

An EU inspection team would visit Karachi Fisheries Harbour (KFH) in January next year to examine the process of seafood export as also the processing plants.

The purpose of the visit is to examine the standards at KFH, which have been mentioned by EU in its final report. In January 2005, during its visit, a team of EU mission expressed concern over untidiness, improper trolleys and baskets being used at KFH and warned Pakistan of banning seafood imports if it did not comply to EU standards.

The EU mission in its final report pointed out that said that KFHA failed to ensure cleanliness.

The mission also took serious notice of smoking, betel-leave spitting on the walls and floors of auction halls and presence of pigeons inside the halls, which depicted an ugly picture. There has been no change in situation so far.

Marine Fisheries Department (MFD), the authorised agent of EU in Pakistan was assigned to check the quality of seafood and EU standards at KFH before issuance of exports certificates. Earlier, MFD took serious notice of non-implementation of EU standards at KFH and stopped issuing further certificates of seafood exports to the EU. However, later on the request of KFHA, it lifted the ban for three months as probationary period to fulfil the EU standards.

KFH however did little to rectify the situation. Despite a ban on the wooden trolley, they continue to be used for carrying fishes and shrimps.

Pakistan federal minister for food, agriculture and livestock Sikandar Hyat Bosan has also expressed displeasure over the slow pace of development work at the KFH ahead of the EU mission.

Incidentally, the MFD has requested the EU ambassador to postpone the visit of EU mission till April 2007.

Pakistan seafood exports ratio to EU countries is around 35 percent of its total seafood export.