Govt frames seafood export guidelines to meet EU standards

ISLAMABAD: The government has framed a set of new guidelines to ensure quality in seafood exports in a bid to catch up the international standards following the lift of a six-year ban from the European Union, sources said on Saturday.

The sources at the commerce division said the guidelines were formulated as per the requirements of the European Union (EU) and other importing countries on hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP).

They said the government distributed the guidelines to 137 fish exporters and processors.

Total 2,000 fishing boats have already been modified. 

The sources, enumerating the steps taken by the government to enhance export of seafood products, said after a period of around six years the EU allowed resumption of export of fish and fishery products from Pakistan to the EU countries.

It may be recalled that the fish processing plants were de-listed by the EU.

Two fish processing plants have been enlisted by the EU and a case of enlistment of five more processing plants is in the process.

They said two laboratories (microbiology and chemical) have been accredited from the Pakistan National Accreditation Council.

The appropriate trainings and guidance on different aspects for of fishermen resulted in an increase in seafood export revenues to $324 million during the last fiscal year of 2015/16.

Training of around 2,500 fishermen and fisheries-related personnel on different aspects was arranged to bring high quality products, which fetch higher price in market.

These trainings were aimed at reducing post-harvest losses onboard fishing vessels and were about hygiene, deckhand navigational electronic equipment, HACCP and modern fishing techniques.

The sources said a model shrimp farm in district Thatta has been established by the Fisheries Development Board with funding from Export Development Fund (EDF) to enhance supply of raw materials for seafood industry.

They said in order to enhance seafood exports and curb smuggling of seafood to Afghanistan and other countries from Peshawar, four new development projects are being implemented.

These included establishment of regional office and testing laboratories of Marine Fisheries Department in Peshawar and Gwadar.

The sources said under the strategic trade policy framework 2015/18, matching grant of up to a maximum of Rs5 million for specified plant and machinery or specified items is provided to improve product design and encourage innovation in small and medium enterprises and export sectors of leather, pharmaceutical and fisheries.

The EDF board also approved Rs96 million for establishment of Pen Feh farm of sea bass and groupers along coastal belt of Sindh.