KARACHI: The start of new fishing season is expected to witness lifting of ban on fish imports by the European Union (EU) because the Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) has reportedly taken measures to meet the EU's standard operating procedures (SOPs), official sources said.

The coordinated efforts of the MFD with Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) and Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) has helped produce results which would help in the lifting of ban on fish imports by the EU member states, sources added.

The EU is reluctant to send inspection team to Pakistan for verification of conditions, such as modification of boats, hygiene at auction halls, cold chain and traceability of fish.

However, during a recent meeting of the EU envoys in Islamabad it was decided that the task of certification and verification of the renovation work, including modification of boats and other SOPs should be given to the MFD.

Since then the MFD through coordinated efforts of the KFHA and the FCS has undertaken the task of ensuring that EU conditions are met and ban on seafood imports is lifted at the earliest, sources said.

Though seafood exports increased by over 30 per cent to around $260 million per annum because exporters after the EU ban aggressively explored other markets, including Middle East and other non-traditional markets.

Sources said that the MFD would send a report to the EU before the end of this month which will be a sort of certification to the conditions laid down by the EU.

Sources said so far 340 boats have been modified as per EU specification and there is positive response from owners who are saving up to 25 per cent in ice cost.

The hatches of these boats have been coated by fiberglass and stainless steel lining to cover wood so that it dose not come into direct contact with fish catch to ensure hygiene.

Similarly, all the fish catch is moved in plastic crates and at every stage, fish catch is stored at a required temperature of 6 degrees Celsius. Similarly, steel pallets, hydraulic trolleys for movement of fish from boats to auction hall have been placed as per EU specification.

Official sources said deficiencies relating to the harbour, boats and processing units identified by the EU mission had been removed.

The EU had identified three major deficiencies relating to hygiene, traceability and a deficient cold chain.

Throughout the chain starting from fish catch, loading and unloading, auction hall and processing units, the EU mission witnessed poor hygienic conditions.

The EU banned seafood import from Pakistan in April 2007 and ever since no exports had taken place, depriving the country of the much needed foreign exchange and employment opportunities.

However, official sources are optimistic that once the MFD certification is accepted, lifting of ban on seafood imports by EU is likely to come into affect with the start of new fishing season from next month.