EU to resume Pakistan fish imports after six years

[Rommel]

EU to resume Pakistan fish imports after six years

Pakistani fish exports to the European Union were worth 50 million euros a year until European food officials in 2007 identified serious deficiencies in hygiene and quality checks on seafood. File Photo

ISLAMABAD:The European Union is to resume imports of seafood from Pakistan, officials said, ending a six-year suspension imposed over hygiene fears.

Pakistani fish exports to the European Union were worth 50 million euros a year until European food officials in 2007 identified serious deficiencies in hygiene and quality checks on seafood.

The governments fisheries department has approved two companies to resume exports to the European Union, Pakistans leading trading partner, the bloc said in a statement Wednesday.
This is a real breakthrough that should also inspire other industries in Pakistan to increase their exports to EU markets, the EU ambassador to Pakistan, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, said in the statement.

Through a technical assistance programme, the European Union has helped Pakistan upgrade fish auction halls in Karachi and train fishermen and inspectors in line with European standards.
More than 300 fishing boats have been revamped and laboratories set up to test produce to help Pakistan meet EU standards, the statement said.

 

[khanpanni]

Pakistan should first fulfill the local demand in the country. We have lost of problems with our clean river water which

is destroying the sea life. Our industry and households water is polluting the rivers and ultimately affecting our sea and

natural fish bread . Anyway, it is a good news for fish industry.

 

[سعد]

چلو مچھلیوں کی پھر شامت آئی ... سب کے سب چھوٹے سوراخ والے جال لے کر ... مچھلیوں کی نسل پھر برباد کرنے نکل پڑیں گے
​

 

[alimohsan52]

Pakistani seafood set to enter EU markets again

Source: http://www.brecorder.com/top-news/1...ban-on-import-of-pakistani-fish-products.html

ISLAMABAD: The European Union has
decided to allow import of Pakistani fish products. These products were subject to a ban in European Union since 2007.

Pakistan’s fishery establishments were de-listed by the European Commission (EC) in 2007 after the EU inspectors found systemic enforcement failure and serious deficiencies in the sanitary quality of the fish.


After a concerted effort by the Ministry of Commerce, Marine Fisheries Department and Pakistan’s Trade Mission in Brussels, European Union has finally agreed to lift the ban from March 12th 2013 and two Pakistani fish-processing establishments have been allowed to export its fish products to the European Union.


The European Commission had decided to recommend to the 27 member states, for inclusion of two Pakistani Fishery establishments in the approved list that are authorised to export fishery products to the EU.


The member states were given the deadline till February 26th, 2013 to file their objections. Since, no such objection was made by any of the member states, the names of the two fishing establishments were duly accepted by the EU.


Any consignment exported from these two approved establishments in Pakistan, after 12th March 2013, would be able to enter the EU.


All the fishery consignments destined for EU will be inspected by the Marine Fisheries Department prior to the shipment and by the the European port when they get there.


The EC held that re-listing would be done after the relevant stakeholders in Pakistan could improve the hygiene conditions in the fishery processing establishments.


The Government of Pakistan has been working with the stakeholders to bring in the desired improvements. The laboratory services of MFD have been modernized; MFD microbiology and chemical labs have been internationally accredited; hygiene conditions in fishing vessels, landing & auction sites, fish processing plants have been improved; around 200 fishing boats have been modified.


Before the de-listing, Pakistan’s export of fish to Europe amounted to 38.72 million in 2006.

Source:

http://tribune.com.pk/story/513679/six-year-hiatus-pakistani-seafood-set-to-enter-eu-markets-again/

ISLAMABAD:

The European Union (EU) has decided to resume imports of Pakistani seafood to its markets, marking another step forward in improving EU-Pakistan relations, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the EU ambassador.



The decision puts an end to a six year long voluntary ban of exports of seafood products to the EU by the Marine Fisheries Department of Pakistan.


The voluntary ban imposed by the fisheries department was the result of the EU Food and Veterinary Office identifying serious deficiencies in the official control system for seafood, including the traceability and hygiene at various stages of the industrial process.


Starting from March 12, two major companies which have been approved by the Marine Fisheries Department will begin exporting the products. Other local companies can then seek to be certified to export seafood to the European bloc, which is Pakistan’s largest trading partner.


“This is a real breakthrough that should also inspire other industries in Pakistan to increase their exports to EU markets,” said the EU Ambassador to Pakistan Lars-Gunnar Wigemark.


“It is the result of the EU’s and Pakistan’s joint efforts to facilitate increased trade by meeting EU product standards. Resuming Pakistani seafood exports to the EU will further promote our already strong bilateral trade relations and support job creation in Pakistan,” he added.


Ambassador Wigemark noted that when the ban was introduced in 2007, Pakistani seafood exports to EU markets stood at 50 million euro (Rs6.5 billion) per year.


He stated that there was potential for the figure to rise. Trade in fisheries products will also promote trade diversification – exports to Europe have so far remained focused on textiles.

 

[Mojo-jojo]

Re: Pakistani seafood set to enter EU markets again

صفائی ستھرائی تو لگتا ہے پاکستان اور انڈیا کے لوگوں کی طبیعت میں ہی نہیں پھر کچھ دن میں انسپیکشن میں فیل ہوجائیں گے اور یوروپین پھر ناقص کوالٹی اور صفئی کے فقدان کی وجہ سے پابندی لگادیں گے
​

 

[foot soldier]

Re: Pakistani seafood set to enter EU markets again

PPP media cell can't fool the people anymore, election is around the corner and they are trying to show that Pakistan's economy is booming my ***. Yesterday there was gas pipeline, yamaha, fisheries etc.

 

[ha12oon]

This has probably has more to do with the EU common fishing policy, that is looking to reduce commercial fishing locally to allow fish stocks to recover after decades of over fishing, makes sense that demand for fish is unlikely to reduce, so importing is the only option.