No Compromise On Quality Of Imported Food Items: Razzak Dawood

A consultative session was convened by Ministry of Commerce and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), wherein the Advisor to the Prime Minister for Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood and Federal Secretary Commerce Mohammad Younus Dagha met with the concerned stakeholders from the business community here on Saturday.

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Dec, 2018 ) :A consultative session was convened by Ministry of Commerce and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), wherein the Advisor to the Prime Minister for Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood and Federal Secretary Commerce Mohammad Younus Dagha met with the concerned stakeholders from the business community here on Saturday.

The meeting was convened to seek input of food manufacturers, importers and exporters on improving the shelf life of imported food products as well as the labeling and Halal certification requirements for these products, a press release issued by TDAP said here.

The recommendations would be considered by the Commerce Division for proposed amendments in the Import Policy.

The Advisor on the occasion expressed his concerns with business community on the quality of imported food products and said that the government would only allow good quality, healthy, safe and Halal food to be imported in the country and those violating the requirements would be dealt with strictly.

He also said that the government wants to facilitate the exporters to increase our export base and reduce our current account deficit as well as reliance on foreign financial assistance. Business community shared with the Advisor their views regarding, increasing the shelf life of imported food products from the current 50% threshold for remaining shelf-life of the imported items, labeling of imported food products in Urdu, clear mentioning of "Halal" in urdu on packaging of food products and Halal accreditation requirements for the imported food product.

Advisor assured the stakeholders that the Ministry will take into account their valuable inputs before formulating the necessary regulations. The said regulations will be applicable on all the future imports of food products and will not affect orders that are currently in process.

Secretary TDAP Rafeo Bashir, representatives of Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), Animal Quarantine Department(AQD) and senior officers of TDAP also attended the meeting.