While the government is moving forward with the establishment of another authority, following the establishment of the seed and cannabis authority, all the exporters of Pakistani fruits and vegetables, the Association of Importers and Traders (PFVA)and He expressed serious concerns about the proposed composition of the National Food and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA). They argue that the new authority is unnecessary and unjustified, warning that it will increase the burden of the gardening sector instead of facilitating it.
PFVA, the only representative body of the gardening sector, has sparked strong objections to the proposed law to create NAFSA. The association emphasizes that before the formation of a new authority, the government must assess the shortcomings in the current Plant Protection Department (DPP). Simply replacing an entity without addressing its failures does not guarantee success.
In a letter sent to the Minister of Security and National Research for Security and Research on Saturday, PFVA has identified several major reasons for the lack of performance at DPP. These include qualified and insufficient trained workforce, lack of inspection and operational infrastructure test in ports.
The letter stated that instead of creating a new authority, the government must focus on strengthening the DPP with regard to operating inspection and testing infrastructure in ports such as developed countries, skilled and qualified officials to enhance their efficiency and reduce administrative costs.
PFVA warns that the creation of NAFSA may lead to the development of additional bureaucratic layers and the increase in obstacles and conflicts with existing departments. There are concerns that excessive red tape can make organizational processes more complicated rather than efficiency.
The association also wonders whether NAFSA has the ability and resources to implement new standards effectively, given that the current departments have struggled to support international health standards (SPS) (SPS).
While the declared goal for NAFSA is to improve exports, PFVA is afraid that the regulations that have been implemented will be additional challenges for exporters. Increased bureaucracy and organizational obstacles may hinder trade instead of facilitating it. The association also expressed disappointment because the stakeholders did not participate in formulating the new regulations.
As a major player in the agricultural trade sector, PFVA believes that he should have been consulted to ensure that policies were practical and effective. Another main anxiety is the absolute power assigned to NAFSA. Article 36 of the proposed draft law states that it is not permissible to put a lawsuit against the authority or its members, which effectively removes legal accountability.
This ruling prevents commercial bodies from addressing grievances against power, raising serious concerns about transparency and fairness. PFVA has also called for a reasonable time frame to resolve conflict, especially for damageable commodities. The delay in resolving conflicts may make decisions meaningless if the product deteriorates or ends before reaching accuracy.
PFVA warns that the NAFSA formation can significantly disrupt the export sector. If new regulations are imposed strictly without addressing the radical causes of past failure, exports may decrease to undesirable levels. The association strongly recommends that the government focus on strengthening the current DPP by addressing its shortcomings instead of creating a new authority. The enhancement of the DPP capacity will be a more cost -effective solution, ensuring better facilitation of exporters and improving compliance with SPS standards.
It should be noted here that a similar bill such as NAFSA was rejected earlier by the previous PMLN government in 2013-17, and then by the PTI government 2018-22 due to overlap and repetition of power at the federal level.
This is because Punjab, through the Punjab Food Safety Authority under the Punjab Food Approval Law, 2011, through the food safety law in the bond under the Food Authority Law, 2016, the food safety authorities in KPK and Plocistan through the Food Authority Law, 2014 already regulating the export and import of food.
The definitions / terminology used in the NAFSA bill are not in definitions defined by the International Plant Protection Agreement (IPC), the Codex Alimentarius (CAC), and the International Animal Health Organization (WOAH), which was previously Office International Des Epizooties (OIE).
The sources state that the draft law was prepared by former officials under MNFSR to prolong their residence as members of the authority even after retirement at the expense of the government. The draft law was also supported by Mr. Waseem Ajmal Choudhry, MnFSR and Bilal Haider, the joint secretary towards Prime Minister Shehabz Sharif.
