Zero tolerance for violators of SPS protocols
Islamabad, : Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, has reiterated that compliance with Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) regulations is a cardinal principle of international trade in agro-products. “These rules are not a formality; they are the lifeline of our export system, safeguarding food safety, public health, and the biosecurity of ecosystems,” the Minister emphasized.
On his directions, the Department of Plant Protection (DPP), under the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, has taken robust initiatives across rice, maize, citrus, and mango sectors to ensure SPS compliance. During the current mango season 2025, several reforms were introduced, including posting of staff at exit points, engagement of reputed PSI firms, installation of CCTV cameras, back-end monitoring, mandatory punching of vehicle numbers on phytosanitary certificates, photographic proof of staff with consignments, and reshuffling of staff to eliminate malpractice. These steps reflect the government’s commitment to transparency and credibility in the phytosanitary certification system.
Acting under the direct instructions of Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, DPP intercepted a major violation on 25th May 2025 at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. In collaboration with Pakistan Customs, three mango consignments totaling 6.2 metric tons, valued at USD 25,649, destined for Norway, were stopped due to blatant non-compliance with mandatory EU phytosanitary protocols. The exporters — M/s Pak Punjab International, M/s Sajjad & Co., and M/s Kamran Enterprises — attempted to bypass critical SPS requirements such as Hot Water Treatment (HWT), sourcing from registered orchards, pesticide residue analysis, and correct HS code declaration.
The Minister strongly condemned this illegal attempt, declaring: “Such irresponsible acts do not harm a single consignment — they risk shutting down Pakistan’s entire export window to Europe. Those involved are not just violating rules; they are acting against national interests. We will ensure strictest penalties and zero tolerance for such elements.”
As an immediate corrective measure, Customs confiscated the non-compliant consignments and imposed penalties, while DPP restrained the violators from future exports for a specified period. Owing to these timely interventions, Pakistan has successfully exported around 120,000 metric tons of mangoes so far in the 2025 season without a single rejection or interception reported from any country.
Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain reaffirmed the government’s resolve: “Pakistan will not allow the reckless actions of a few to jeopardize the livelihood of our farmers, the credibility of our certification system, and the hard-earned reputation of Pakistan in global markets.”
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
