Meat exporters oppose quarantine inspection fees

LAHORE: Meat exporters dismayed over the inspection fees they have to pay twice to quarantine departments at ports in case of postponement of export consignments, saying this practice is causing hindrance in exports.
Nasib Ahmad Saifi, chairman of All Pakistan Meat Exporters and Processors Association (APMEPA), said usually a consignment inspected and booked at one flight is offloaded due to space unavailability or any other reason. Such incidents do not happen because of any fault or negligence of exporter.
“However, the quarantine department recharges fee on inspection on the same consignment ready to be loaded on next available flight,” Saifi said in a letter to Secretary National Food Security and Research Fazal Abbas Maken.
“This double charging increasing cost for the exporters needs to be abolished.” A quarantine officer, however, said his department adjusts previously paid certification fee at the time of next consignment if a flight is missed or consignment is cancelled due to any reason. “The secretary can initiate inquiry on the association’s letter. The inquiry will expose the performance and support of the quarantine department,” he added, requesting anonymity. APMEPA proposed that the quarantine office should remain open round the clock and issue quarantine certificates for consignments whenever it is needed. Animal quarantine offices should be near slaughter houses keeping in view the perishable nature of the processed meat and other products, he added. The association chief said consignments can be ready at any time and an exporter may need certificate or other support of the quarantine office. Presently, these offices observe five days a week working schedule and also remain closed on all public holidays.
He said a chilled chicken consignment possesses three-day shelf life. If the consignment could not find a space in a flight on Friday it is vulnerable to expiry over the weekend. The quarantine officer, who previously served as a director, said certificates are issued in accordance with the mutually agreed procedures developed in October 2016. “We work nonstop 8:00 am to 4:00 pm a day,” he said. “In the past, quarantine office has worked 24 hours and 7 days a week.” In the past, flights were being cancelled due to fog, while exporters were also facing issues related to transportation from slaughter house to quarantine office. But, the issue has subsided. A ministry’s official said the ministry has received the letter and will look into the matters and concerns raised by the association.