Poultry feed supplements denied Customs clearance

KARACHI: In a big blow to the poultry industry, which has recently been given a lot of incentives in the federal budget 2017/18, customs authorities have denied clearance to imported chicken feed ingredients like vitamins and amino acid premixes, terming them as drugs, a statement said on Tuesday. 

“A dearth of ingredients will cut the supply of poultry feed short resulting in huge losses on account of chick mortality, delayed weight gains and drop in egg production, “ a spokesperson of Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) said. 

“This will culminate in long term shortages as once the breeding stock is adversely hit, production will continue to suffer throughout their life cycle.”   The PPA official said that these poultry feed ingredients and premixes were being imported for the past over 50 years as non-drugs, but now they have suddenly fallen under the category of drugs.  

“All the imported items fall under PCT Heading 23.09,” he said and added, “As such, there is no reason for the customs authorities to deny clearance.”   According to the PPA statement, currently, hundreds of containers valuing more than millions of dollars are stranded at the seaports.

“The preparations of poultry feed in those shipments are rich in vitamins and amino acids, which are extremely sensitive to high temperatures and can lose their potency if stored for prolonged periods under poor conditions,” the spokesperson said. 

He said that in this regard the PPA has approached Finance Minster, Senator Ishaq Dar and Advisor to PM on Revenue Haroon Akhter and urged them to step in on the matter and ensure an uninterrupted supply of poultry products during the holy month of Ramadan. 

“We appreciate the incentives given to the sector in the federal budget for the year 2017-18 and urge the concerned authorities especially finance minister to resolve this pressing issue on urgent basis,” the PPA official said concluding the statement.