RICE EXPORTS TO USA CAN BE INCREASED MANIFOLD IF PRESHIPMENT INSPECTION FACILITY MATCHING FDA IS PROVIDED

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has invited the attention of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T) and the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) and sought guidance to avoid the losses the big and small rice exporters are facing due to rejection of cargo by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on arrival of cargo at destination.

It is reported and appreciated by rice exporters that FDA USA under their almost 0% tolerance and inspection system carry out their own inspection of cargo at destination and are not obliged to accept pre-shipment of any other agency but If only the rice exporters would know before dispatch whether the rice is as per the FDA requirements it would increase exports as many exporters are not exporting rice to USA because of fear of losses due to rejection at destination despite pre-shipment inspection by reputable agencies at home.

President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said whilst the very strict inspection and benchmark of FDA is welcomed by the exporters but if only the exporters/shippers could have the facility of preshipment inspection and approval before dispatch to destination it could save the exporters from huge losses.
The exporters on rejection of cargo have to call the cargo back to Pakistan or reship it to any other destination. If this is not done then the cargo is destroyed.
In case of return of cargo, the exporter suffers losses due to freight from USA to Pakistan and the clearing charges, warehousing, actually the losses are or two way freight and clearing charges and logistics. The re -packing charges have also to be borne by the exporter because of the printing on the bags which has to be changed according to the requirements of the new buyers and rules of the land of the country where it is intended to be marketed.
At a meeting of rice exporters to USA held on 25th November 2019 it was suggested that since Pakistani rice is in demand in USA and many exporters have orders in hand from USA and exporters consider it a matter of distinction to meet the requirements and high standards of FDA USA and are keen to come up to their qualifying level and in fact some of them are regular exporters to USA and their cargo is being approved by FDA most of the time.
The issue is about the uncertainty whether it would be approved or not and to remove this uncertainty it would be best if a system is evolved of dispatching sealed preshipment sample drawn from the lot by an international preshipment inspection company of high repute and sent to FDA and shipment effected only after their approval.
The rice exporters on their part are taking extreme precaution about pesticides and other related matters but sometimes the matters are related to the farm and have inherent faults and for this reason it is suggested that the defects are detected before shipment and goods not shipped. It is indeed praiseworthy that FDA has the best technology and the rice exporters desire that the international preshipment inspection companies in Pakistan could match the technology and detect flaws before shipment to avoid hardships and losses

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