BASMATI NEEDS PROTECTION IN RIGHT EARNEST

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged the Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) to define basmati rice to enable the so called Quality Review Committee (QRC) established in violation of pre-shipment inspection rules and regulations to protect basmati rice in right earnest.
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver invited the attention of PSQCA to the geographical indications (GI) pronounced by the international forum whereby restrictions have been imposed based on GI.
It is therefore incumbent on PSQCA to determine what is basmati in light of the ruling.
Thaver said we deeply regret the weak representation of the issue of GI of basmati at the international forum and called for issuance of show cause notice to the then concerned ministers and officers for poor representation at the forum.
Thaver also expressed regret that the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) remained silent and did not protect the basmati GI of Pakistan vigorously.
He has urged the minister of state for commerce Khurram Dastagir to summon the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), PSQCA, QRC, REAP and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to decide future line of action.
He said the majority of basmati rice exporters are SMEs who have been badly affected by the negligence of the officers and are seeking the freedom to work without any hindrance from QRC who is ill informed and not qualified nor competent to protect basmati rice which it has failed to protect

Posted in: Press Releases