Islamabad: It has been revealed that Pakistan exports substandard and counterfeit rice to the EU.
The meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce was held under the chairmanship of Muhammad Javed Hanif, in which the issue of objections to the export of Pakistani rice by the European Union was discussed.
In the meeting, committee member Mirza Ikhtiar Baig revealed that substandard and counterfeit rice was exported from Pakistan to the EU. He said that the European Union has issued Pakistan quality alerts regarding rice.
Mirza Ikhtiar Baig said that the European Union has sent us more than 100 alerts. These alerts were sent because counterfeit rice is being supplied. Rice in the markets contains a lot of counterfeit material. We have to see how these things pass under our noses.
Committee member Sharmila Farooqi said that the European Union erected 72 barriers on Pakistani rice in 2024. There are quality issues in Pakistan’s rice exports. It is being said that another National Food Safety Authority is being formed. Authorities are being formed but the problems are not being solved.
Secretary Commerce Jawad Pal told the committee that no warning issue has been issued from the European Union side. Such a big issue is being made over something that has not happened.
In the meeting, Khurshid Junejo said that the European Union has issued a warning on a consignment of rice from Punjab. Only by sitting and talking with the agricultural wings will the export problems be solved. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig said on this occasion that this year there was a bountiful production of rice and the export was also excellent.
Officials of the Commerce Department told the participants of the meeting that they are working with the provinces regarding the quality of rice. We have held many meetings with the provinces regarding the quality of rice.
Another member of the committee said that TCP has just received an order for 50,000 tons of rice from Bangladesh. The problems regarding the quality of rice will have to be resolved soon.
The Standing Committee decided to invite the Rice Exporters Associations in the next meeting. The Chairman of the Committee said that he would take a detailed briefing from the Rice Exporters Association on all these matters.
