Pakistan Becomes Lowest-Risk Country for Food Safety Standards, Leading in European Rice Exports
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has emerged as the lowest-risk country regarding food safety standards for the fiscal year 2023-24, securing a strong foothold in the European rice export market. Pakistani rice now accounts for 25% of the European rice market, significantly outperforming India’s 16%.
This milestone was highlighted during a meeting between newly elected Chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), Malik Faisal Jahangir, and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal. The discussions focused on sustaining Pakistan’s rice exports amidst falling international prices and India’s recent decision to lift its rice export ban in October.
Mr. Jahangir informed the minister that only 74 rapid alerts for pesticide and safety issues were issued against Pakistani rice exporters last year, in contrast to 264 for Indian exporters. “This reflects the high compliance standards of the Pakistani rice sector,” the REAP chairman stated.
He emphasized that Pakistan is considered a low-risk country concerning food safety standards, while other countries like Turkiye, India, Spain, Italy, and the UK face significantly more alerts. This strong performance has allowed Pakistan to outshine India in the European rice market.
However, Mr. Jahangir expressed concern over a negative campaign that could harm Pakistan’s export reputation. Despite this, he shared encouraging news, noting that Pakistan’s rice exports face fewer regulatory hurdles compared to many competitors.
In response to the competitive market, the commerce ministry has removed the minimum export price to give Pakistan an edge against India. However, with lower global prices, there are concerns that Pakistan may not match the export value achieved in the previous year.
Commerce Minister Jam Kamal emphasized the importance of boosting Pakistan’s rice exports and maintaining compliance with stringent European food safety standards. He called for increased collaboration between the government and exporters to strengthen Pakistan’s position in global markets.
Minister Kamal highlighted the crucial role of rice exports in the nation’s economy, noting that rice ranks second only to cotton in terms of export value. He added that rice exports are a major source of revenue and employment, and the government aims to increase these exports from $4 billion to $6-7 billion in the near future. “We are committed to improving our standards to meet international food safety requirements, particularly in Europe,” the minister affirmed.
The meeting also touched on recent diplomatic developments, including the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, which could open further opportunities for Pakistan’s rice exports.
