Prime Minister's Advisor on Commerce, Abdul Razak Dawood is reaching Karachi on Saturday (today) to hold a meeting with the stakeholders regarding labeling requirements for import of edible products, official sources told Business Recorder.
The labeling requirements of food items are essential for human health and safety as several countries make it mandatory for the ingredients of food products to be printed in the local language for the convenience of the consumer.
The sources said, since the Halal certification is not mandatory under the current rules, it becomes very difficult for the Customs authorities to ascertain if an edible product declared as Halal is actually Halal or not.
According to sources, Commerce Division maintains that Pakistani consumers must be aware of the ingredients of edible products they consume. For this purpose, appropriate amendments in the Import Policy Order (IPO) are being proposed keeping in view their safety and religious sentiments of the consumers.
The Advisor will discuss the following points with the stakeholders to be incorporated in the Import Policy Order: (i) products with 80% remaining shelf life; (ii) the ingredients of the food product must be printed in Urdu language on the retail packing;(iii) the word "Halal" in the Urdu script is printed on the retail packaging; and (iv) the shipment is accompanied by a certificate issued by a Halal certification agency in the country of origin, accredited by the Pakistan Halal Food Authority.
The sources said, TDAP, Karachi has been asked to arrange a meeting with the stakeholders of edible food products deemed relevant to the discussion. The PPP government had started working on the standards and establishment of Halal Board and had announced support for 50 percent of cost on Halal certification obtained through internationally accepted Halal products certification bodies.