Pakistan’s food exports and imports have come to a standstill following the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) action against the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) and the arrest of several officials. The issuance of phytosanitary certificates -- mandatory for exporting or importing plants and plant products -- has been suspended, effectively halting the movement of goods. These certificates confirm that the consignments are pest- and disease-free. The crackdown follows an inquiry ordered by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after a consignment of organic basmati rice to the European Union (EU) earlier this year was found to contain GMOs, violating EU regulations. The strict action was ordered by the PM in a meeting on the issue this week. Action has been initiated against 17 DPP officials, accused of issuing 40 phytosanitary certificates for rice consignments to the EU without fulfilling legal requirements. These officials issued a total of 46 certificates in this year. Director General of DPP Tariq Khan has been suspended. Sources said that around nine officials have been arrested. The suspension of certificates has severely disrupted rice exports. The News

 

 

US agriculture uses more than 1.1 billion pounds of pesticides annually (one country — 15% of the global total). And a new report shows that soy and corn, which are overwhelmingly GMO, account for almost half (46%) the volume of all the pesticides used in the US annually. Friends of the Earth

 

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