The federal government has decided to establish National Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health Regulatory Authority to oversee food safety, Sanitary and Phytosanitory (SPS) issues of agriculture products, official sources told Business Recorder. Giving the background, the sources said, a joint study was undertaken in 2005 by the World Bank and UNIDO on Pakistan's agro-based imports and exports in relation to SPS compliance.
The report highlighted that Pakistan lacks a coherent strategy for quality and SPS management in relation to its trade. It further exposed the institutional weakness of the existing SPS control system and the lack of capacity of the federal government departments engaged in certification of animal and plant health at the time of export. It was, thus, recommended to assess the need for the establishment of an authority to oversee food safety and SPS issues in the country.
The sources said due to weak SPS control system, the country is facing frequent rejection of its agro-based commodities at foreign destinations, resulting in a loss to the Pakistani exporters and the country in the form of foreign exchange, the sources added.
Taking cognisance of the need to have an effective SPS management and official control system in the country and to meet the emerging challenges in food safety, animal & plant health in the wake of the WTO regime, the then Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) sponsored a project, titled "Special Programme for Strengthening SPS Facilities and Quality Inspection Services in Compliance with WTO-Establishment of National Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (NAPHIS)." It was proposed therein that at the end of the project, the NAPHIS may be converted into a statutory body with regulatory powers to ensure compliance with national and international SPS and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT).
Task Force on Food Security, constituted by the Prime Minister headed by Sartaj Aziz, in its report had also recommended a new food safety law accompanied by a food safety monitoring network which would include an updated system of standards, a food safety and accreditation system, and a food safety inspection and testing system as envisaged under NAPHIS.
According to sources, Government of the Punjab has already established the Punjab Food Authority in 2011. The other provinces are likely to follow suit. This situation may result in a lack of harmony in the rules and regulations. It may also affect the country's international obligations.
The text of the draft bill was finalised, after taking on board the stakeholders, both federal and provincial, and with the assistance of an international expert on SPS management. The sources maintained that the draft bill was submitted to the federal cabinet in its meeting on May 5, 2014 however, it was not approved by the cabinet. The cabinet argued that the definition of agricultural products in the draft bill has been overextended. In addition, the functions envisaged for NAPHIS are also being performed by Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority. The cabinet directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to resubmit the draft bill in consultation with the Science & Technology and Commerce Divisions.
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