Status of Food Safety Regulations- Scenario in Pakistan

Food Safety spotlights on taking care of, planning, and capacity of sustenance in ways that counteract foodborne disease. This incorporates various schedules that ought to be taken after to stay away from potential wellbeing perils. In technologically advanced nations there are many-sided gauges for sustenance readiness, while in lesser urbanized nations the primary issue is essentially the accessibility of satisfactory safe water, which is generally a basic thing in nourishment readiness. 

An overabundance of diseases associated with food are causing health problems in developing countries. The WHO in 2005 reported that more than five and a half thousand children die every day from consumption of food and water contaminated with bacteria. The WHO reports that 1.3 million children under the age of five die annually from diarrheal diseases caused by unsafe food and water; yet another 2.2 million dies from respiratory infections caused or exacerbated by poor sanitation.

When we identify the sources of food putrefaction or contamination is the major point of production of safe food. Microbiological contamination is the major hazard and point of attention for the unsafe food. Diarrhea is the most common indicator of food borne infections and is often followed by under-nutrition and impairment of the immune system.

Recent developments in food sciences and biological sciences have high concerns to safe food production and provision. Developed nations have food regulations but unfortunately developing nations were lacking in this area. Now developing nations are working on food regulations for production, packaging and labeling of materials which are essential; part of food items preparation. 

Pakistan does not have a coordinated lawful structure but rather has an arrangement of laws, which manages different parts of sustenance security. There exist a substantial number of food laws in Pakistan. In any case, most them manage control of creation, dissemination and supply of nourishment, notwithstanding managing profiteering and storing. There are four laws that particularly manage sustenance safety. Three of these laws straightforwardly center issues identified with nourishment wellbeing, while the fourth one specifically Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority Act, is in a roundabout way significant to nourishment security.

The Pure Food Ordinance, 1960 which consolidates and amend laws on food marketing. This ordinance has prescribed rules set out standards for coloring, preservatives, flavoring compounds, antioxidants, stabilizers, anti-caking agents, non-nutritive constituents and metals. This law also prohibits sale, preparation, manufacturing and import/export of food which is not suitable for human consumption and is injurious to human health. This law also sets out rules for labeling of packaged food and precautionary measures to be taken during storage, stocking and packing.

The Pakistan Hotels and Restaurant Act, 1976 applies to all restaurants & hotels & seeks to control/ regulate rates charged & std. of service(s) they provide. For example, the sale of food/beverages that are contaminated & not prepared hygienically/ served in utensils which are not hygienic/clean is an offense. It does not state consumers’ right to lodge a complaint. Complaint can be addressed to controller appointed by Federal Govt. for enforcement Consideration of complaint is a matter of jurisdiction of the controller/manager. Besides, as in other food laws, the act does not provide for compensation to consumers in case of damage.

The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority Act, 1996 is the relevant law which is directly relate to “Food Law” but it is not clarified yet. This act provides for the establishment of an authority which formulates standards or adopts international standards. PSQCA is also responsible for the enforcement of standards in whole Pakistan. It has mandate to inspect and test products and services including food items for their quality, specification and characteristics during use and for import and export purposes.

Above are some of the laws and regulations in Pakistan regarding food safety which offers many opportunities for public intervention that have not been capitalized so far. The public intervention approach can substantially compliment the government efforts to implement the food safety laws.

Author: Rtr Sadia Tariq
Rotaract Club of karachi Innovators
RID # 3271