The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has agreed to facilitate the importers of poultry nutritional products in the larger interest of the poultry industry.
The Pakistan Poultry Association's (PPA) delegation led by Dr Kareem Bhatti revealed this while talking to Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Abdul Basit here on Thursday. The delegation members briefed the LCCI President about their meeting with DRAP Chief Executive Officer Dr Aslam Afghani saying that a number of issues came under discussion including enlistment of local agents, importers and their products.
DRAP Chief Executive Officer Dr Aslam Afghani was of the view that the government wanted to promote economic activities in the country and all the genuine demands of the stakeholders would be honored. He promised not to allow any hindrance towards facilitation to the poultry sector, the delegation leader said.
Dr Kareem Bhatti while quoting the DRAP Chief said that the SRO 412 (1) cannot be modified at this stage however, the DRAP would provide maximum relaxation to Form No 6 holders while remaining within the rules. Relaxation will be provided to all those seeking Form No 7 by relaxing the rules and removing the complications in the documentation.
Moreover, the pending applications will also be processed on priority basis. Relaxation will be provided to all those seeking Form No 07 by relaxing the rules and removing the complications in the documentation. The pending applications will also be processed on priority basis, he added.
He said the DRAP chief's decision would avert the crisis leading to shortage of these basic products used by the poultry farmers. These products are exclusively used by poultry farmers and there is no misuse in humans.
The documentation for human and veterinary, poultry alternative and health products have same requirements for enlistment as per the SRO 412 (1), he added.
The nature and use of poultry products is different from the human products. The poultry products are regulated differently in EU and USA (under directive (EC) No 1831/ 2003), he added.
The delegation briefed the DRAP chief that the current regulation to enlist the importers and products is creating a crisis leading to shortage of these basic products used by the poultry farmers. The DRAP chief was given the suggestion that the poultry alternative medicine and health products, which have been already legally imported, may be allowed to be sold.
They also demanded that the companies with Form No 6, whose consignments are at port/in pipeline be allowed to get them cleared and sold in the market. The criteria/requirement of documentation for the enlistment of veterinary/poultry products should be formulated according to their country of origin and international practices, the delegation head added.