The Pakistan FMCG Importers Association (PFIA) has urged the Federal Commerce and Textile Ministry to revisit its decision of making mandatory for importers to print complete information label in both in Urdu and English on imported food items, ensuring minimum 66 percent shelf life at the time of clearance of such goods and obtaining a halal certificate from a recognized halal authority.
The commerce ministry had amended import policy in last month under which new regulations for the imported food items were set: labeling of ingredients, nutritional values and usage instructions in Urdu and English; minimum 66 percent shelf life and obtaining a halal certificate from an accredited authority or from an issuing authority that is a member of either IHAF or SMIIC. These changes were implemented with immediate effect.
In this connection, Irfan Iqbal Sheikh, former senior vice president of LCCI and PFIA Central Leader, wrote a letter to Abdul Razzak Dawood, the advisor to the prime minister on commerce and textile, and raised his community concerns relating to the issues that will arise due to the sudden change in the import policy on food items.