A prestigious signing ceremony of the Protocol for Inspection andQuarantine Requirements for export of onion from Pakistan to China betweenGeneral Administration of Customs China (GACC) of the People’s Republic ofChina and Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) of theIslamic Republic of Pakistan was signed on Tuesday.
Syed Fakhar Imam, Federal Minister for National Food Security & Researchand Nong Rong, the Ambassador of Peoples Republic of China in Pakistansigned the agreement at Ministry of National Food Security & Research(MNFSR), Islamabad.
It was reaffirmed that such initiatives would further strengthen friendshipties between both the countries. Such trade related Memorandum ofUnderstandings (MoU) would bring the people of both the countries moreclose together.
Syed Fakhar Imam highlighted that the agricultural sector is indispensableto the country’s economic growth, food security, employment generation andpoverty alleviation particularly for the rural population.
It was further stated that the present government under Prime MinisterImran Khan has been giving high priority to growth of agriculture sector onsustainable basis and is implementing the most appropriate policies toachieve the desired outcomes.
Syed Fakhar Imam highlighted that Pakistan with around 138 thousand ha and1.8 million tons of onion production stands at 6th and 9th position interms of onion area and production respectively.
Moreover, the Pakistan contributes 2.1% in world onion area and 1.9% in itsworld production. The Minister stated that Pakistan has been exportingrice, mango and citrus to China after complying phytosanitary importrequirements of China.
The instant Protocol would also create awareness about quarantine andphytosanitary compliance among Pakistan onion producers.
Nong Rong, the Chinese Ambassador, anticipated that the Protocol would opennew ways for more Pakistani products to reach Chinese markets. He furthersaid that China and Pakistan are complementary to each other.
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China is already supporting Pakistan in Foot and Mouth disease control,chili, potato, beef and mutton production. The CPEC would further result insuch trade ties. Work on development quarantine and Phytosanitaryprocedures for export of Pakistani onions to China was initiated byDepartment of Plant Protection (DPP), Ministry of National Food Security &Research (MNFSR) was initiated during January, 2019.
The National Plant Protection Organizations of both the countries conductedPest Risk Analysis (PRA) and the technical negotiations resulted in theform of Protocol during April 2021. Through friendly consultations, and inorder to ensure safe entry of onion (Allium cepa Linn.) from Pakistan toChina, to prevent the introduction of pests, and to protect plant healthunder the provisions of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement)of the World Trade Organization.
DPP/ NPPO – Pakistan and GACC/ NPPO – China has agreed to signed draft“Protocol of Inspection and Quarantine Requirements for the export of onionfrom Pakistan to the China between General Administration of Customs of thePeople’s Republic of China and Ministry of National Food Security andResearch of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan”.
Under this Protocol, the DPP would conduct pest survey, implementIntegrated Pest Management (IPM) targeting quarantine pests of concern toChina during the growing season of onion by adopting internationallyrecognized phytosanitary inspection methods and ensure pest free export ofonion to China.
The processing companies intend to export onions from Pakistan to Chinashall be registered and recommended by DPP after approval through audit forfurther registration with GACC.
At the end, Syed Fakhar Imam expressed his deepest thanks to Chineseceremony for attending this signing ceremony and paid special thanks theGeneral Administration of Customs China (GACC)/ NPPO – China and theChinese Government for cooperation and facilitation of bilateral trade ofagricultural goods between Pakistan and China.
