Commerce Ministry shifts blame to exporters for ‘unfit’ rice exports to EU

ISLAMABAD: The Commerce Ministry has accused both rice exporters and officials from the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) of colluding to clear substandard rice consignments.

The unfit rice was intercepted 72 times by European Union (EU) countries last year. In December 2024, interventions were reduced to eight monthly average from 12.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce, under the chairmanship of Javed Hanif Khan, discussed the calling attention notice of MNA Sharmila Faruqui in which she had requested the House to discuss serious disruptions in rice exports from Pakistan to the EU resulting in loss to the national exchequer.

Faruqui accused DPP officials of clearing rice shipments on fake certification.

However, the Committee was informed that the main reason for ‘interventions’ in EU countries was the use of excessive or substandard fertiliser and pesticides by the farmers due to which the standards of Minimum Residual Disease (MRD) are not being followed properly.

The panel was also informed that rice exports earned $ 4 billion during 2024.

Secretary Commerce Jawad Paal denied misconceptions about unfit rice consignments, stating that no formal warning had been issued by the EU on this matter.

Special Secretary Commerce Shakeel Ahmed Mangnejo briefed the committee that the ministry has taken several measures to avert such a situation in consultation with the stakeholders, the results of which are now being witnessed.