The Sindh Provincial Food Department (PFD) has accepted that it has no authority to issue clearance certificate in the case of import of crude de-gummed soyabean oil (not suitable for human consumption in its present form).
This has vindicated the stand taken by Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) on the issue of certification of mandatory items. Under the 1996 Act, PSQCA is the only body which has the mandate to carry out conformity assessment in respect of all compulsory items, which also include ''RBD palm oil'', and "no other agency of the Federation or Provinces has any legal authority to issue such certificates".
The Regional Directorate of Food, Karachi Region, in a letter to the Deputy Collector of Customs (Preventive) has informed him that "the Provincial Food Department has no concern with the supplies/consumption of the oils," hence no action could be taken by the Directorate.
The issue was kicked up following the possibility of release by customs of palm oil imported 10 years ago by Kaghan Ghee Mills. It was placed at the disposal of Provincial Health Department (PHD) for supervising its manufacturing and processing into cooking oil for human consumption with the certification of PSQCA.
PHD had invited PSQCA, along with other organisations, on September 27 to draw samples of RBD palm oil from the tankers in the presence of different organisations for test and report whether the said oil was fit for human consumption. PSQCA had, however, refused to participate in the exercise on the plea that only Standards Development Centre (SDC) of PSQCA was authorised for testing of the prescribed characteristics and requirements. The samples of the imported palm oil were tested earlier by various agencies, including PSQCA, and were found unfit for human consumption.