In the wake of EU concerns: Senate body seeks govt intervention in rice export

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s rice and cotton industries are reeling under the weight of export quality issues, declining production, and a lack of cohesive food safety policies, prompting lawmakers on Wednesday to urge stronger government intervention.

The Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research, chaired by Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, convened to address these pressing concerns, unveiling alarming gaps in regulations and enforcement.

Ministry officials stunned the panel by revealing that Pakistan lacks a national food safety policy despite mounting domestic and international scrutiny over food quality.

The committee heard about a damaging incident in October 2024, when a Pakistani rice shipment to Italy was rejected over substandard quality. Of 10,300 containers exported to the European Union (EU), 107 were flagged, prompting an internal investigation. Director General of Plant Protection, Waqas Salam, informed lawmakers that 17 officials from the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) were suspended following the incident, with 11 currently under arrest and two still missing.

Secretary of Food Security Syed Zafar Ali Shah highlighted ongoing challenges in ensuring compliance with European Union standards for rice exports. “Problems often arise when shipments are dispatched before laboratory results are available,” Shah said. To address this, he said, “We have tightened checks on all food items, including rice, and have prepared new legislation to improve food safety,” Shah stated.

The committee also discussed broader food safety concerns, including allegations of plastic rice being sold domestically and arsenic contamination in locally grown rice.

Senator Danesh Kumar warned of the health risks posed by arsenic, calling it a “silent killer” linked to cancer. Senator Aimal Wali Khan added, “What is being sold as food is often poison. Even the milk on the market exceeds the quantity actually produced in the country.”

In addition to rice quality issues, Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, highlighted a concerning gap in cotton cess collection, warning that non-payment has significantly hindered cotton research and production. “The decrease in cotton production from 15 million bales to 5 million bales is directly linked to the lack of funding for vital research,” Hussain said.

Notably, 2014-15 was the year when Pakistan achieved record high cotton production of 15 million bales, since then its production is continuously falling.

Dr. Yousuf Zafar, Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC), reported that only Rs30 million in cess has been collected this year, pointing out weaknesses in the enforcement of the Cotton Cess Act. “APTMA has filed 65 petitions against the cess, but we are determined to recover Rs2.5 billion from them,” he remarked. He also proposed amending the law to include penalties for non-payment. The proposal for amendments will also consider a minor adjustment to retain the recovery clause. Notably, there is Rs3.2 billion cotton cess has been pending since 2016 against APTMA.

Amid these challenges, lawmakers called for a unified national food safety policy to address food quality concerns and align provincial efforts. Secretary Shah acknowledged the hurdles posed by the 18th Constitutional Amendment, which shifted responsibilities to provinces, but assured the committee that the federal government is preparing new legislation.

While with no national food safety policy in place, the committee discussed the need for stronger regulations and a unified approach across provinces. Secretary Shah noted that while the 18th Constitutional Amendment shifted responsibilities to provincial governments, the federal government is preparing new laws to address food quality at a national level.

To tackle these issues, the chairman committee decided to establish a sub-committee to draft a comprehensive national food security policy. “The federal government will make the policy, which will be implemented by the provinces,” Shah confirmed.

Committee members, including Senator Aimal Wali Khan, called for immediate legislative action. “The Senate should legislate to ensure the quality of food in Pakistan, as the provinces have failed to address this critical issue,” he urged.

Recognizing the lack of a unified food safety framework, the Ministry proposed the formulation of a National Food Safety Policy in collaboration with provincial governments to ensure compliance with global quality standards.

To enhance monitoring systems, the Ministry aims to improve laboratory testing for pesticide residues, ensuring that rice exports meet international requirements. Farmers will also receive education on the appropriate use of pesticides and good agricultural practices to minimize residue levels in rice.

In addition, the Ministry emphasized the importance of aligning with international practices to tackle concerns regarding pesticide residue in rice exports, particularly those raised by the European Union.

Additionally, the committee reviewed export policies regarding Pakistani mangoes to Iran, noting a significant increase in exports. Pakistan exported 53,205 metric tons of fresh mangoes to Iran, representing a 56.4 percent increase compared to the previous season.

Meanwhile raising concerns over the poor state of regulations, Senator Aimal Wali Khan on Wednesday made some startling allegations during a high-level meeting on food security, leaving participants shocked.

These disturbing revelations came to the fore during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security to address challenges in the country’s basmati rice exports to the European Union (EU). During the session, ANP senator claimed that plastic rice and meat from donkeys, dogs and frogs were being sold in Pakistan, lamenting the absence of effective food quality checks.

The senator also cited a report claiming that only 22% of the milk sold in the country was genuine, while the remaining 78% was chemically produced and fake. Senator Aimal criticised food security officials for failing to prevent consignment rejections. “Why does fungus develop on shipments cleared for export?” questioned Aimal, slamming the inefficiencies in the export process. “The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) claims they lack funds to pay the cess,” said the minister, adding that a policy for recovery would be proposed after consultations with the prime minister.

Officials noted that ‘pressure from the committee has resulted in monthly cess collections of Rs30 million.” However, they called for non-payment of cotton cess to be classified as a non-bailable offence. The committee has summoned APTMA representatives for the next meeting to resolve the issue.