June 15, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 10, 1429

KARACHI, June 14: The Planning Commission has convened a meeting on Monday, June 16, to discuss the issue of ban on Pakistani packed food items by the EU and some other countries on allegation that the products were unfit for human consumption.

It may be pointed out that a large number of Pakistani agro-based products in the form of tinned and packed food have been rejected by EU and other countries due to the presence ‘aflatoxins’ and other micro-organisms, which are injurious to human health.

The meeting to be chaired by the deputy chairman Planning Commission will be attended by representatives from Minfal, and ministries of commerce, health, science and technology, industries and Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority

The European Commission (EC) imposed a ban in October last year on import of packed food from Pakistan on the same basis. It declared the packed food unfit for human consumption and provided a list of exporters of such products and their brand names to the government of Pakistan.

So far the relevant ministries, including Minfal, commerce and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan have not introduced measures to standardise export of packed food from the country.

Asif Memon, a bio-chemist said the aflatoxins was dangerous for human liver and even causes cancer in the body. Therefore, he said all products with aflatoxins were not fit for human consumption.