| According to the Codex Alimentarius Commission of | | | | laws and regulations and establishment of regulatory |
| the United Nations, a food is regarded as safe "If it | | | | bodies is certainly not the sole way of combating the |
| doesn't cause harm to the consumer when prepared | | | | safety issue and there exists severe glitches in our |
| and/or eaten according to its intended use". This entails | | | | law enforcement and implementation policies at all |
| that food should be free from contaminants, | | | | levels. |
| adulterants, naturally occurring toxins and all those | | | | Like most of the developing countries around the |
| substances which might have adverse effects on | | | | world, Pakistan has a very basic and undeveloped |
| human health. Right from the earliest days of human | | | | food system with multiple problem areas such as |
| existence, access to good quality food, in particular | | | | fundamental differences in agency missions and |
| safe food has been one of the most pressing and | | | | approaches to inspection, non-uniformity of facilities, |
| critical questions for the mankind. Through centuries of | | | | unavailability of skilled personnel and money wastage |
| ignorance, experience and trial-and-error methodology, | | | | on non-essential issues with efforts lagging in the |
| we have learnt that safe food is not just a | | | | development of new technologies for controlling |
| fundamental precondition for human survival but is also | | | | concerns. To an extent, it will be reasonable to say |
| inherently and indispensably linked with social, economic | | | | that Pakistan does not have an integrated food safety |
| and ethical facets of our lives. Today, nations all | | | | framework at all but has a set of laws dealing with |
| around the world acknowledge that without surety of | | | | some selected aspects of food safety. Though laws |
| the safe food, prosperity in its collective sense is a far | | | | have the potential to achieve food safety standards to |
| cry. Based on such concrete conclusions, it is now of | | | | an extent, the absence of their understanding and |
| utmost importance that we augment our understanding | | | | implementation at all levels of the governments leaves |
| regarding the current world scenario and re-evaluate | | | | too many loopholes to be filled. There is an urgent |
| our strategic approach that will be required to unknot | | | | need to understand that a government in its truest |
| the complexities of providing safer and healthier food | | | | sense has the responsibility of developing a |
| to every human being in the world. | | | | comprehensive, personalized and integrated food |
| Over the last few decades, the question of ensuring | | | | safety framework which does not necessarily deals |
| adequate food safety standards has evolved into a | | | | with protection, but also with health maintenance and |
| much more complicated problem with a series of | | | | promotion. |
| interconnected factors to be considered. On one hand, | | | | Fairly achieved in developed countries like Canada, UK |
| the scientific and technological advancements such as | | | | and the USA, we really need to sketch out a |
| the development of high precision analytical | | | | well-conceived national food control policy developed |
| equipments and improved agricultural and preservation | | | | with the support of the various participants. This policy |
| techniques have made it possible for us to evaluate | | | | should elucidate role of the governmental hierarchy, |
| and eradicate many of the existing potential safety | | | | different agencies, various sectors of economy and |
| hazards. Yet on the other hand, some of the modern | | | | consumers, and should ascertain mechanisms for |
| scientific practices such as increased usage of | | | | cooperation with means of dealing with emerging |
| chemicals and other additives have also introduced | | | | challenges in regard to human health and the national |
| such detrimental changes in the entire food supply | | | | economy. There is an acute need to understand that |
| chains which were never envisaged in the entire | | | | the formulation and functionality of the entire system is |
| history. Moreover, factors such as ever-increasing | | | | dependent on the way the responsibilities are |
| population, global financial recession and rising media | | | | transferred and enforced at levels of a governmental |
| exposure with consumer awareness have added | | | | structures and state actors such as the federal, |
| many newer dimensions to the food safety issue. | | | | provincial, municipal governments, independent health |
| Keeping an eye over these constantly emerging | | | | agencies and non-governmental organizations. |
| interrelated concerns, it is undoubtedly the need of the | | | | At the top of the ladder, the most critical responsibility |
| time that we adopt a multidimensional approach at all | | | | of the State or Federal ministries (Food, Health etc.) is |
| levels of a food chain i.e. from farm to fork. | | | | to structure a centralized vision with Risk Assessment, |
| Stakeholders such as the food industry and the | | | | Risk Management and Risk Communication as its |
| consumers also have a role to play but it is the state | | | | broad guiding principles. Since Risk Assessment and |
| government along side its associated agencies which | | | | Risk Management deal with scientific and |
| has the ultimate responsibility to establish a solid legal | | | | socio-economic arenas respectively, it is a prime task |
| infrastructure for other stakeholders and occupy an | | | | of the state government to develop a scientific and |
| imperative position in developing and enforcing food | | | | legal amalgamation and supervise its implementation |
| safety standards at all levels. | | | | right till the grass roots. Other important responsibilities |
| It is often misunderstood that the sole liability of the | | | | of the state government include: |
| government and its agencies is to provide a legislative | | | | - Assessment of raw materials and finished products |
| and regulatory framework and lay down certain | | | | and identification of critical control points throughout the |
| mandates for those involved in provision of food to the | | | | system. |
| people. These conditions may include compliance with | | | | - Allocation of appropriate funds for the provincial |
| the approved procedural specifications, fulfillment of | | | | governments to uplift their food safety programs. |
| bio-safety guidelines and proscription of the production | | | | - Introduction of stringent monitoring systems of |
| and sale of the adulterated and contaminated foods | | | | sampling and thorough inspections before approving |
| etc. At this moment if we talk about Pakistan, most of | | | | food imports. |
| the food laws existing deal with production, distribution | | | | - Evaluation of the laws and standards adopted from |
| and food supply in addition to dealing with mere profit | | | | international bodies and their localization in accordance |
| exploiting and hoarding. Specifically, there are four laws | | | | with our needs and resources. |
| present in the aspect of Food Safety and are related | | | | - Replacement of 'Hands-on' approach with new |
| directly to this issue. According to USDA's annual | | | | techniques and establishment of up-to-date |
| country report for Pakistan, food imports are generally | | | | laboratories and research centers with latest |
| regulated by the Federal government and food | | | | equipments and other analytical facilities. |
| standards are regulated by the Provincial together with | | | | - Development of the transport system all through |
| of the local health authorities. The Pakistan Pure Food | | | | Pakistan to minimize microbiological losses. |
| Laws (PFL) devised in 1963 forms the basis of the | | | | - Enforcement of basic hygiene practices and safety |
| entire existing trade-related food quality and safety | | | | and quality management systems such as ISO: |
| legislative framework. Working with an aim of | | | | 9001-2000, HACCP and ISO: 22000 at every level. |
| preventing food adulteration and assuring adequate | | | | Coming next in line, the Provincial governments have |
| level of purity, it covers around 104 different food items | | | | the responsibility of taking the message from the |
| ranging from edible oils and fats, cereals, fruits and | | | | central authorities and implement it in their respective |
| vegetables, dairy products etc. It sets the regulations | | | | provinces. Whatever the plan of action they adopt, it |
| addressing the usage of preservatives, antioxidants, | | | | should not in any way deviate from the regulations set |
| colorants, flavorants and other food additives and | | | | by the state. Working on a unified vision, each province |
| forbids the production, sales and trade of all such | | | | should initiate its own operations in accordance with its |
| unsafe food items which violate the prescribed rules | | | | priorities and resources. Just like the inauguration of a |
| and are likely to prove harmful for the health. | | | | Parha Likha Punjab Campaign (Literate Punjab), every |
| In addition to this, PFL issues a defined set of | | | | province should invest in such programs for |
| instructions for the food safety aspects such as | | | | awareness about food safety and should incorporate |
| labeling of food packages, preventive measures in | | | | these operations to all districts, cities and villages in its |
| storage and transport, and aims of providing a platform | | | | jurisdiction. Other responsibilities include: |
| for laboratory analysis and inspection of food samples. | | | | -Assessment of raw materials and finished products |
| Another law of similar in its operational approach, the | | | | and identification of critical control process points at |
| Cantonment Pure Food Act of 1966 applies food | | | | provincial level. |
| safety regulations exclusively on the cantonment | | | | -Continuous surveillance of the entire supply chain |
| areas. The Pakistan Hotels and Restaurant Act of | | | | including farmers, processors, suppliers, wholesalers, |
| 1976 makes it obligatory for hotels, restaurants and | | | | retailers etc. with special attention to the execution of |
| caterers all over Pakistan to control and regulate their | | | | the regulations and predefined criteria. |
| rates and standard of services. Section 22 of the act | | | | -Introduction of technical programs for training of small |
| declares that the sale of food and beverages which | | | | farmers and other producers at the grass root level |
| are prepared/served in unhygienic conditions or contain | | | | concerning basic food safety and hygiene principles. |
| contaminated/ injurious substances is an offense and | | | | -Funding for new graduates who pursue governmental |
| any person/organization found guilty is likely to receive | | | | public health careers and enhance state efforts on |
| severe legal penalties. The Pakistan Standards and | | | | recruitment and retention of public health professionals. |
| Quality Control Authority Act is relatively a new law | | | | -Establishment of 'Emergency Recall System' at the |
| with its induction in the year 1996 and is not generally | | | | time of a catastrophic outbreak. |
| classified as a food law. This act supplies a platform | | | | -Re-invention of procedures and development of |
| for the establishment of the Pakistan Standards and | | | | capacities to support health agencies during recalls and |
| Quality Control Authority (PSQCA). Working under the | | | | outbreaks. |
| patronage of the Ministry of Science and Technology, | | | | -Impeachment of the people/organizations breaching |
| it is the premier standardization body working with 81 | | | | the regulations with autonomy granted to agencies to |
| scientists/engineers and 254 supporting staff as | | | | immediately ban such business, independent of the |
| self-finance organization with a primary task of not | | | | court decisions. |
| only formulation of Pakistan Standards, but also its | | | | Despite being at the lowest end of the command |
| promulgation. | | | | order, the Municipal/City/District government has one |
| Apart from these basic food safety regulations, there | | | | of the most critical roles to play in implementing and |
| are a number of other law enforcing and regulatory | | | | enforcing food safety standards. Being the most |
| bodies that are working in direct and indirect correlation | | | | familiar with the ground realities, municipal government |
| with the concerned issue. Generally, the government | | | | has a superior chance of understanding situations and |
| still relies heavily on the Codex Alimentarius standards | | | | then act appropriately. Some of its key responsibilities |
| and guidelines developed jointly by the FAO and WHO | | | | include: |
| for setting and revising its requirements for labeling, | | | | - Continuous food safety surveillance of the different |
| packaging, food additives, pesticides and imported food | | | | food chains including industries, hotels, restaurants, |
| products. Food standards which are specified by the | | | | cafes with appropriate penalties and prohibitions for |
| United States Food and Drug Administration (USDA) | | | | offenders. |
| and Food and Drug Association (FDA) are also used | | | | - Enhanced facilities for action based approach on |
| for certain products. Moreover, government agencies | | | | consumer complaints. |
| such as the Customs Department and Plant Protection | | | | - Recruitment of skilled and sincere personnel for the |
| and Quarantine (PPQ), Pakistan Council of Scientific | | | | inspection and scrutiny of general practices. |
| and Industrial Research (PCSIR),National Institute of | | | | Conclusively, we can say that seeing the devastating |
| Health (NIH), Pakistan Agriculture Research Council | | | | consequences of the recent system failures in |
| (PARC) and Pakistan Council for Research in Water | | | | countries such as China, the issue of food safety can |
| Resources (PCRWR) are also working for the focal | | | | not taken lightly. The ever increasing complexities of |
| point of achieving food safety objectives in their | | | | food system with rapid and almost explosive |
| respective premises. In the presence of so many | | | | technology have made it essential that the issue of |
| agencies and available regulations, it is however a | | | | food safety be considered as an integral part of the |
| harsh reality that the prevailing situation of food safety | | | | national planning. The government and other state |
| and security standards in the country is dark and | | | | players should therefore realize that they occupy an |
| dismal. In the wake of this plethora of regulations and | | | | extremely decisive position and any ambiguity or |
| regulatory bodies, the presence of such deteriorated | | | | negligence in understanding or implementation of food |
| structure indicates towards a fact that the influx of | | | | safety regulations might lead us to a catastrophe. |