KARACHI: The Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) on Monday suspended the exports of fish and seafood products to markets in Europe even though the European Union has not imposed any ban.

A team of MFD on Sept 8, 2015, while inspecting hygiene conditions at K-I and K-II auction halls and their adjacent areas, observed that shrimp were placed on roads outside K-II auction near overflowing drainage lines.

The team was informed that the repair work of sewerage lines could not be initiated before Dec 15 under the project called “Rehabilitation and Renovation of Karachi Fish Harbour-external services.”

The team noted that K-I auction hall was not in used as it was too small.

The Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) has failed to implement the August 24, 2001 decision to extend K-I auction hall and installation of sliding rollers on the walls (constructed up to 3-4 feet) with mesh screen (on top half) at all the gates of KII auction hall for handling of crates loaded with fish to overcome the problem of entry of unauthorised persons as well as prevent flies in KII auction hall.

The team observed that hygiene was not maintained as obligated by provision of Pakistan Fish Inspection and Quality Control Act 1997 Rules 1998 and subsequent amendments.

However, the recommendations of MFD communicated on June 18, 2015 and Aug 24, 2015 were ignored, prompting it to suspended export of fish and fishery products from K-I and K-II auction halls to EU countries till health and hygiene provisions were implemented.

On Monday a meeting chaired by Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) Managing Director Muhammad Ramzan Awan was held to discuss the situation.

Haji Khan Mir Khan, representative of FCS informed the meeting that society was ready to implement instructions of MFD. He explained that due to litigation, the Registrar, Cooperative Societies has seized the accounts and only salaries were being paid.

MFD Acting Director General Israr Ahmed stressed that the ban would be lifted only after work on K-I & K-II auction halls was completed.

It was decided that the fish harbour authority would try to get the account active to enable FCS to access funds to accomplish assigned tasks; parties violating rules of hygiene will be penalised and will not be given export certificates; stainless steel trolleys/plastic crates will be used; proper garbage disposal will be ensured; KFHA and FCSL would be responsible for sanitary installations.

Capt Akhlaq Hussain Abidi, a leading exporter, was upset over the extreme step of MFD. He confirmed that since Sept 9, 2015, no shipments were permitted.

He said he had sent 150 containers of frozen fish and shrimps to the EU in past two years which were all cleared by the EU border inspection.

The share of EU is three to five per cent out of country’s total fish and seafood exports, he added.

Published in Dawn, October 6th , 2015

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