KARACHI, Aug 15: Seafood exporters have started shipments to the European Union after a self-imposed ban of six months by the Pakistani authorities, market sources said here on Monday.

Syed Akhlaq Ahmed, a leading seafood exporter, said that at least 10 to 12 refrigerated containers had so far been shipped to EU countries by several exporters during the last week.

“I have shipped two containers and packing another for shipment to the EU. Each container can carry 25 tons of packed seafood,” he added.

The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock had imposed a ban on the seafood export after EU inspectors expressed concern over the sanitary conditions at the Karachi fish harbour in their report in February 2005.

At least 20 seafood processing plants were exporting their products to the EU before February 3, 2005, when the inspectors concluded their evaluation.

Meanwhile, the EU Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General in its final report of July 6 had pointed out various weaknesses by the inspection authority MFD in analytical examination of seafood, sanitary condition at the harbour, presence of bacteria in water and ice, fishing boats hygiene, etc.

Mr Ahmed pointed out that Pakistani exporters were getting lower price this year for seafood. “On an average we are getting at least one dollar less than last year on each kilogramme because of abundant supply from Indonesia and other Far Eastern countries at lower prices,” he observed.—APP