October 25, 2002	Friday	Sha’aban 18,1423

KARACHI, Oct 24: The European Union (EU) has waived off the condition of full (100 per cent) checking on shrimps consignments exported from Pakistan to its member states.

The European Commission (EC) early this year after detecting chloramphenicol in an export consignment of shrimps from Pakistan to a EU member country imposed the condition of making complete checking of consignments.

But the condition of checking was proving an irritant for the exporters of seafood to the EU countries who were complaining that due to double inspection, one carried at home and another at import stage is causing a long delay and a lot of damage to the quality of seafood.

Consequently, the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) took the matter with the EU through Pakistan’s economic minister, Brussels. The EU was informed that strict checking is being done while issuing health certificate to export consignments.

Upon this the EU member countries carried out certain tests on shrimps consignments which were found favourable and satisfactory.

The EU is a major buyer of seafood and shrimps from Pakistan and it is hoped that waiving of condition of 100 per cent checking will give a fresh impetus to export of seafood in general and shrimps in particular.