UNISAME urges govt to enforce zero tolerance on rice quality for exports

KARACHI: The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has called on the government to enforce strict zero-tolerance policies within its phytosanitary departments to ensure no quality complaints arise from the European Union (EU) or other global importers regarding any variety of rice, whether basmati or non-basmati.

In a statement on Tuesday, Zulfikar Thaver, president of UNISAME, pointed out the need for stringent government measures to ensure that no exporter, whether a member of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) or not, can violate the export standards. “The government must show no leniency in cases where export standards are breached,” Thaver stated, urging full compliance with the manual’s guidelines for all varieties of rice to global buyers.

He appealed to pre-shipment inspection (PSI) companies to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for genetically modified (GM) rice in basmati rice shipments to the EU. Thaver stressed that PSI companies must take their responsibilities seriously to avoid any buyer complaints. “The trust placed on these companies demands that they act with full diligence, ensuring no substandard rice is exported,” he said.UNISAME council members warned that any complaints lodged against rice exporters should be thoroughly investigated.