Citrus and fruit exports: PHDEB sets to launch pre-shipment inspection scheme

The Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board (PHDEB) is all set to launch a "pre-shipment inspection" scheme to export citrus, fruit this year for all destinations except the Middle East and Iran.
"Mechanics and modalities of this schemes have been devised and proposal is with the Ministry of Commerce for final approval and issuance of an SRO in this regard," said PHDEB Chief Executive Officer Shamoon Sadiq.
He claimed that the matter had also been finalised with customs and other related agencies for this scheme. Co-ordination between all these departments would help inspect the shipment at one place and avoid opening time and again at different stations for inspection, he added.
Shamoon said the emerging globalisation and fading territorial boundaries under the WTO Regime had prompted many countries to increase their share in the world market. At the same time, this had brought in increased competition and compliance to strict quality and health safety standards. Compliance to these standards was even more vital in the case of food products in general and the fresh produce in particular.
The consumer was looking for compliance with safety standards as well as other quality assurance measures implemented during the cultivation, processing, and packaging of the product before export. This had necessitated the enforcement of minimum grades and quality standards.
Taking cognisance of the above, Shamoon maintained, the government in consultation with the stakeholders including growers, processors and exports had revised and harmonised national grades and quality standards and decided to enforce them through third party pre-shipment inspection.
He said the pre-shipment inspection would entail visual and physical inspection of fresh produce meant for export keeping in view provisions contained in Pakistan Standard for Quality Control at export stage, defined and amended from time to time in the light of international market conformity requirements.
The scope of pre-shipment inspection will cover verification of commodity type/variety, minimum quality requirements, specific quality requirements, grade, class, uniformity, packaging, labelling, marking and verification of refrigerated container.
Procedure of the pre-shipment inspection means that the inspection would be carried out on the basis of 'Acceptable Quality Level (AQL)' duly defined in the Pakistan Standards for different horticulture commodities.
The total number of packages would be recorded. The transport container would be visually inspected before loading to check for the hygiene and proper cooling system of the refrigerated container. The inspection staff would check container's cleanliness, residue from previous cargo, temperature including proper closing, absence of holes, nails in the floor etc.
The potential export houses/exporters interested in pre-shipment inspection would get themselves registered with the PHDEB and they would convey plan of shipment and related inspection schedule in writing to PHDEB or inspection team at least three days in advance for onward submission to the inspection company. Based on the exporters request communicated through PSI certifying cell, the inspection company will prepare inspection plan and contact the exporter before 2 days of the actual inspection to confirm all arrangements including size of consignment, exact timings of inspection etc.
Third party inspection team would make inspection of both the containers and the produce. A team comprising nominees of the PHDEB, the Department of Agriculture and Livestock Products Marketing and Grading (DALMAG) and All Pakistan Fruits and Vegetables Exporters and Importers Association would over all monitor pre-shipment inspection system and would facilitate for its successful implementation, Shamoon said.