Pak to introduce Pesticide monitoring project

Islamabad: The government is likely to introduce a PSDP-supported project ‘National Pesticide Residue Monitoring System in Pakistan’ with a total cost of Rs 845.923 million to help and promote food quality and safety both from both the public health and trade perspective.

A senior official in the Planning Commission said that the national importance of the aforementioned project was likely to be presented in the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) meeting that might be held on September 18.

He said the country is producing a number of agricultural exportable commodities like cotton, wheat, vegetables, rice etc. Pakistan also importing a number of agricultural commodities including seeds, pulses and spices.

The official explained that in the post WTO scenario, Pakistan would have to compete with international countries having trained manpower, scientific research backup and subsidies economies in the open market. Without observing Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, it would be difficult for Pakistan to move in international market with dignity and honor. To comply with the WTO/SPS agreements (to which Pakistan is a signatory) in letter and spirit, the government will have to train manpower with demonstrated skills and accredited laboratories working in an integrated and coordinated manner.

The Uruguay Round Agreement on the application of (WTO-SPS agreement) recognises the right of the member countries to adopt measures to protect human, animal and plant life or health. In future when the rules and regulation of the WTO will be promulgated and implemented, the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarus Commission standards for pesticide residues will act as reference points for SPS measures.

The official said at present, different countries had developed theirs own maximum residues limits for pesticide in/on food item and that could be used as technical barrier to trade. Thus it would be mandatory for the exporters to furnish a certificate in compliance with the food standards of importing country.

Due to insufficient research backup and lack of regular pesticide residues monitoring system, developing countries like Pakistan finds it difficult to keep up with the changing world scenario.

The central idea of the proposed project was to establish a comprehensive pesticide residue-monitoring programme at national level.

The project will form part of the comprehensive program for producing adequate laboratory facilities to comply with WTO/SPS requirements. Pakistan was using a tremendous amount of pesticides in the agricultural sector, which could cause human health issues, environmental pollution and residual effect in food and feed. To ensure safety of foods and protect the environment, the necessity for strengthening capacity to deal with the residual pesticides was becoming more apparent. The proposed project focuses on strengthening and restructuring of institutes already associated with pesticide residue analysis in Pakistan.

The official said that at present there was no regular pesticide residue-monitoring programme in the country. The MINFAL was the controlling ministry while Plant Protection Department Karachi was responsible for registration and other regulatory aspect of pesticides. Currently pesticide research was handled at four federal and various provincial institutes. Most of these institutes were mainly concerned with quality control of pesticides or with the efficacy trials of pesticides in developing pest management packages.

The official claimed that successful implementation of the project would help to improve local consumers health, and increase country agriculture exports.