Malaysia clears third Pakistani supplier for meat import

KARACHI: Malaysian government has allowed a third Pakistani meat exporter after approving two others last year, it was learnt on Tuesday.

Fauji Meat Limited, with the country’s largest meat plant, got approval from the government of Malaysia to export meat in the South Asian economy.

“This shows that international acceptability and demand of Pakistani meat is gradually increasing,” Adviser to the Prime Minister for Commerce and Investment Razak Dawood wrote on Twitter.

“I commend the efforts made by the ministry of commerce trade and investment counsellor in this regard and urge him to provide maximum facilitation to our meat exporters to obtain similar approvals.”

Malaysia approved last year two Pakistani firms for exporting meat and meat products. Department of Veterinary Services, Malaysia and Department of Islamic Development Malaysia approved Zenith Associates and Leiner Pak Gelatine Limited from Lahore for exporting meat and its allied products to Malaysia.

Pakistan exports around four percent of beef and veal produced in a year. Being the world’s top-10 beef and veal producers, the country produces approximately 1.8 million tons.

Exports of meat and meat preparations amounted to $306 million in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, around 10 percent up over the preceding fiscal year. That was 1.4 percent of the country’s total exports of $22.6 billion.

The global halal food market was valued at $715 billion in 2018, and is expected to grow at an average 12.7 percent between 2019 and 2027, according to an estimate.

The trade balance is in favour of Malaysia, and the volume of bilateral trade could be multiplied within next few years if certain adjustments are made in the free trade agreement with Pakistan.

China in April allowed another Pakistani firm to export meat to one of the world’s biggest markets after lifting quarantine restrictions.

The Organic Meat Company received an approval from Chinese customs authorities for export of heat-treated meat to China.

The company has pioneered the heat treatment process whereby foot and mouth disease virus can be removed from beef meat. China is one of the world’s largest beef consumers and that imports half a million tons annually to reduce gap in demand and supply.

Chinese authorities had imposed quarantine restrictions on Pakistan’s meat which has the world’s lowest price. Pakistan exports beef to Vietnam in bulk and from there it enters into China without any restrictions.