United Arab Emirate will relax restriction of compulsory import of potato from Pakistan in reefer container till such time as summer completely sets in.
According to information reaching Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) here on Saturday, the Government of UAE has assured Pakistan Consulate in the Emirates that import of potatoes would be allowed in open top containers.
It may be noted that UAE government, under new quality standards, 'Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), had imposed a restriction three months ago that potatoes and other vegetables could only be imported in the Emirates in reefer containers.
The vegetable importers in UAE have assured that they would import potatoes in large quantity before the arrival of summer.
Meanwhile, president of Fruits and Vegetable Processor and Exporters Association, Abdul Mateen Siddiqui, has welcomed the decision of UAE, saying that Commerce Ministry and EPB had played key role in persuading UAE authorities to postpone the restriction till such time as local potato exporters are able to comply with the new standards.
He said that the compliance of new quality standards which are above 1SO-9000, will cost about Rs 1.3 million to each exporter.
He said that each exporter has to get HAACP certificate at a cost of Rs 300,000 while the compliance in the shape of building, procedures, transport, packaging, storage, labelling will cost about Rs 1 million to each exporter.
Mateen said that UAE is a major market for Pakistan's fruits and vegetables and any such restriction would cause huge losses to local exporters.
Pakistan's exports of potatoes have been gradually coming down from an average of 150,000 tons to about 57,000 tons annually.
Export of Pakistan's potatoes during 2001-02 declined to 56,967 tons with a value of $ 6.09 million compared to 58,450 tons worth $ 6.65 million in 2000-2001.
Pakistan produces about 650,000 tons potatoes every year.
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