The export and import of Pakistan’s food items have resumed as the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) restarted issuing phytosanitary certificates. The suspension of certificates, which began on Friday, had disrupted rice exports and other food-related trade.
The FIA raided the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) headquarters in Karachi, arresting nine inspectors and effectively halting food export and import activities at Pakistan’s ports.
The raid and arrests were linked to an ongoing investigation into the interception of Pakistani rice shipments at European Union (EU) ports due to contamination concerns.
A few months ago, a number of Pakistani vessels carrying rice had been stopped reportedly because of food safety risks, including pesticide residues (MRLs), mycotoxins (aflatoxins), mineral oils (MOAH, MOSH), genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and other toxic contaminants.
Jawed Jillani, Acting Chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), confirmed on Tuesday that the certificates are now being issued under the directive of the new DPP director general. However, he urged the department to expedite the process to recover from the three-day delay that had severely impacted rice exports.
The resumption of trade is expected to alleviate concerns among exporters and restore normalcy in the country’s food export operations.
