ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: The government on Saturday indirectly acknowledged that till now it had no standard fixed for quality of sugar in the country as the ministry of agriculture has now asked the relevant departments to officially notify “white crystalline” (category Sugar - A) as mandatory Pakistan standard, Dawn has learnt.

The bizarre move by the Minfal, during which first the ministry of commerce was approached, and later the concerned department - Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) of the science and technology ministry - was contacted in this regard clearly shows that the country had so far been marketing and importing sugar without any mandatory standard.

The issue had become even more controversial in the wake of the ongoing debate among the local producers on the import of 700 tons sugar from India, which has been blocked by customs on standardisation issue.

Official sources confirmed to Dawn on Saturday that Pakistan had not notified quality specifications neither for sugar produced at home nor for that imported except that it should be “fit for human consumption”.

“The categorisation of sugar-A (white crystalline), B-refine sugar is in vogue since 1997. The sugar is not under the mandatory list of Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA). This implies that it is not must for sugar to comply to particular specification,” said Secretary Ministry of Science and Technology Dr Pervez Butt.

However, he said what is importable in Pakistan or not was within the domain of the relevant ministries -- agriculture, commerce and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). They have to define the standards and subsequently notified, which then become mandatory for compliance, he added.

An official in the ministry of industry on condition of anonymity told Dawn that any body could import both categories of sugar as Pakistan had not imposed a ban on the import of category B. “We can not restrict any person from import of the either category till to date,” he clarified.

The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) had challenged the imported sugar from India on the plea of quality that it did not meet local standards. However, the court ordered the release of the withheld containers following the report from the Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research that the imported stuff is fit for human consumption

The category A means that the ICUMSA level should be in the range of 40 to 70. The lesser the level the better the quality. An ICUMSA rating is an international unit for expressing purity of the sugar in solution, and is directly related to the colour of the sugar.

While in category B the ICUMSA level may go beyond 70 to 120. This kind of sugar is of low quality but is fit for human consumption. The sulphur dioxide content - required for preservation - is allowed up to 40 mg per kg. Even some food items have more than 40 mg per kg even.

Question arises whether the local manufacturers are complying with quality standards as these are not mandatory. Is there any mechanism to check the quality of local sugar production?

Analysts said that if this decision has been taken, it would not only restrict the import of category B sugar but it might also create problems for small mills owners as well as the law will be equally applicable to domestic users.

“You can not notify the standard overnight because you have to consult all stakeholders before taking any decision,” the analysts added.

Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission in Pakistan has strongly rebutted the impression being created in Pakistan that Indian sugar was not fit for human consumption saying it fulfilled all international quality standards.

“It has been alleged that Indian sugar contained sulphur dioxide (SO2) above permissible limits and was below ICUMSA standards,” said the High Commission in a statement

“All production and sale of sugar in India itself is subject to stringent quality standards that meet all international norms,” First Secretary Commercial at the High Commission Pankaj Tripathi told Dawn on Saturday.

Elaborating further his country’s position, he said the first consignment of sugar reached Lahore in August 2007 followed by a second consignment in the first week of September. He said in spite of a favourable court ruling, the customs authorities have yet to release the withheld consignments.“We want to know what the actual standard criterion in Pakistan is. The PCSIR had already cleared the imported stuff fit for human consumption,” he said.

Mr Tripathi said that Pakistan cement was of good quality and its export to India would be facilitated. Let the market forces determine the trade of essential commodities between the two countries, he suggested.

He said that sugar had been imported from India for the last three years to stabilize domestic price. A smaller quantity of sugar was imported in the year 2005-06, he said and added in the subsequent year of 2006-07, the sugar import from India reached the highest ever level of 0.75 million tons.

Indian sugar is said to have cost importers Rs26 to Rs26.50 per kg and they expect to market it at a cheaper rate than the local product. The local price is between Rs28 to 32 per kg.

The High Commission statement said that as neighbouring countries India and Pakistan are best placed to trade in commodities like sugar and other essential items of daily use that directly affect the lives of ordinary consumers. Shortages and price rises can be effectively countered through such supplies in both directions.

“It is hoped that vested interests would not be allowed to succeed with their attempt to disrupt this trade and the normal operation of market forces,” the statement added.