Pakistan: Government to Establish New Authority to Address EU Concerns Over Rice Exports

In response to trade barriers imposed by the European Union (EU) on Pakistani rice imports, the government has decided to establish the National Food Security, Animal, and Plant Health Regulatory Authority.

Sources told ProPakistani that this initiative aims to address quality concerns raised by the EU and improve the standards of Pakistani agricultural products, thereby regaining and sustaining access to international markets.

The decision follows a troubling year in 2024, during which 72 shipments of Pakistani rice were rejected by European countries due to substandard quality. Federal Minister for Food Security Rana Tanveer warned that if such issues persist, the EU might impose a complete ban on Pakistani rice imports. This situation mirrors a similar incident in the past when Russia also restricted rice imports from Pakistan due to quality concerns.

Consequently, the government resolved to launch the National Food Security, Animal, and Plant Health Regulatory Authority as a modernized institution to oversee agricultural exports and address quality issues.

Tags: rice, Pakistan, European Union, imports, markets