The European Union has once again banned imports of Pakistani seafood because the exporter has neglected to lift its food safety regulations to global standards.
Documents offered to Parliament by Federal Minister for Trade Makhdoom Amin Fahim say the EU has simply removed the names of Pakistani seafood exporting firms from its list for having failed to meet international food safety standards.
In order for Pakistan to resume its exports to the EU, the country has started to upgrade the standards of its fisheries supplies.
The Trade Ministry has asked the EU to fly its inspectors over to check the more than 200 boats which have been built consistent with EU standards. Nine of them are now ready for inspection.
This issue was also tackled at the meetings of EU senior officials.
Due to current security concerns, the inspectors’ visit has been delayed.
In June this year, a master plan for a PKR 3 billion (€24.8 million/$35.1 million) overhaul of the Karachi Fish Harbour was completed and given to the Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority.
The Sindh Government assigned the task of designing the model to the National Engineering Services Pakistan in 2009. Government authorities will review the model and conduct the proper planning.
The master plan involves building two new auction halls at the harbour, remodelling seafood processing units, establishing a shrimp peeling yard, building two fishmeal plants and renewing all roads leading to the harbour.
The construction of shrimp peeling yards would help bolster shrimp sales, as, for instance, the EU has banned seafood exports from Pakistan in part because officials found the country’s shrimps peeling method inadequate.
Weaknesses in the system had led to an ongoing ban set by the EU in April 2007. The Food and Veterinary Office had submitted a report to Pakistani authorities regarding concerns over lack of product traceability and faulty cold chains.
