The Council of Common Interests (CCI) has decided that the enforcement of food standards shall be carried out by provinces and the local governments, and a single harmonized standard shall prevail across the country as a national standard. Sources told Business Recorder here on Monday that in pursuance of the decisions of the 41st meeting of the CCI held on 23rd December 2019, and subsequent meeting held on January 29, 2020, under the chairmanship of the Federal Minister for Science and Technology, the CCI has issued its decisions regarding implementation of the food standards at the local as well as provincial levels.
The CCI decisions are hereby notified/circulated for further implementation. First, single harmonized standards shall prevail across the country as national standard/Pakistan standard. All provincial standards shall be repealed with national standards, formulated by the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA). Second, the PSQCA shall review the composition of Technical Committees and National Standards Committees by giving stronger representation to the provinces.
The PFAs shall also be included in the committees. Third, the enforcement of food standards shall be carried out by the provinces and the local governments.
Fourth, the registration/licensing shall be done by the federal government, whereas, the revenue will be shared with the provinces. Fifth, the National Standards Steering Committee for Food Standards will be constituted by including at least two representatives from each province including Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), PSQCA, and Pakistan Business Council etc. The said committee shall be chaired by the DG, PSQCA. Sixth, the National Standards Steering Committee shall review all the food standards to eliminate the variations.
The suggestions/amendments will be submitted to the relevant TCs for further deliberations and proper disposal of the case. The committee will hold its meetings in all regional cities on rotational basis. The National Standards Steering Committee shall also develop a mechanism for sharing of revenue (collected against registration) among the provinces.
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