Eurofins Global Control GMbH Head Dr Werner Nader has asked the rice exporters of Pakistan to keep an eye on rapid alert system developed by the European Union for food sector to maintain their inroads in that huge market. He stressed the need for being vigilant on fertiliser and pesticides residue level in their product and avoid contamination of genetically modified rice in Basmati rice, metal contamination and authenticity dimension while exporting it to Europe.
Dr Werner Nader, however, said the 2016 was a very good year for rice sector as there were very little incidents of complaints on those counts in exports from Pakistan. He said pesticide residue issues were on higher side as compared to Pakistan in rice exports.
Dr Werner was speaking at a seminar arranged by the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) former vice president Sami Ullah Naeem for capacity building of his fellow on "current topics in Basmati: rice, EU imports, RASFF, authenticity and new topics." Dr Werner, who is going to retire next year, also introduced Thomas to the rice exporters on this occasion who will be heading the inspection, auditing and analytical services of his organisation to serve the food sector in future.
Speaking on this occasion, Sami Ullah Naeem said rice was a very highly regulated sector of food sector. He said laws and regulations keep on changing in EU for food imports and Eurofins was working for the last five years with rice exporters. Senior Vice Chairman REAP Shahjahan Malik and Patron REAP Pir Nazim Hussain Shah also addressed the audience on this occasion.
Dr Werner Nader said his organisation was present in a number of countries including India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Europe and China to serve the food sector for number of services including inspection and analytical services. He said Netherland was the biggest importer of rice in Europe besides the UK. "Pakistan is doing good in exports of Basmati rice to Europe but it needs to be enhanced," he added. He said no GMO variety of rice was permitted to enter Europe but at the same time he expressed satisfaction that GM rice was not being sown in Pakistan.
However, he urged the rice exporters to study a new alert being discussed in Europe which is Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons (MOSH) and Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH). He said aromatic mineral oil could accumulate in the human body and lead to cancer. Its sources are being said to be packaging material which include cartons made of recycled newsprint and other recycle paper, board and jute bags. He said those could also migrate into rice products during the milling process.
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