DPP secures registration for 15 more rice exporters to Russia

June 17, 2023 (MLN): The Department of Plant Protection (DPP) succeeded to get registration for 15 more rice establishments for rice exports from Pakistan to the Russian Federation, a press release issued yesterday showed.

This development was under the dynamic leadership of Federal Minister National Food Security & Research (NFS&R), Mr. Tariq Bashir Cheema, and Mr. Zafar Hassan, Secretary, MNFS&R.

Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of Russia (Rosselkhoznadzor) confirms the DPP, MNFS&R, for registration of 15 more rice establishments with Rosselkhoznadzor as upgraded and recommended by DPP, can now export rice to Russia.

This marks a huge success in boosting exports of Pakistani rice and the state’s overall economy.

The focus courtesy of the Minister of (NFS&R), and Federal Secretary of (NFS&R), regarding rice exports and bringing export quality to global standards, was the prime factor behind this success.

Moreover, their visionary leadership and determined efforts to widen the export base of Pakistani rice to Russia manifested in increasing rice export volume to Russia.

The Russian Federation had put a ban on import of rice from Pakistan in 2019 on pest interception in rice consignment.

However, it lifted the ban in 2021 after corrective measures were taken by DPP in the rice establishment with respect to sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

Whereas, it only approved 4 compliant rice mills for the import of rice from Pakistan based on inspection report of its technical delegation and asked for additional information and measures for the remaining rice facilities.

DPP took special steps to upgrade 15 more rice mills by implementing Standard Guidance Document as per the requirements of the Russian Federation.

Tireless efforts including guidance, and repeated technical compliance audits were put in this direction by DPP to ensure and enable these companies to export rice through improvement in food safety and phytosanitary measures besides quality, storage and packaging.

Now, 19 rice enterprises from Pakistan can export rice to the Russian Federation.

This is a huge achievement of the Pakistan government where the DPP under the MNFSR in close collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce became able to pitch increased rice exports to the Russian Federation.

This brings good news especially to the rice farmers of Punjab and Sindh, as their main source of earnings is based on these exports.

Moreover, Pakistan being an agrarian economy can also look for enhancing exports in other domains as well by improving quality standards as per global markets.

This agreement opens a gateway to further exports to international markets given the quality standards remain sound.

Further, the up-gradation of more rice processing facilities is in the pipeline with DPP, to make them at par with international standards in order to achieve major shares in high-end markets of Asia, Europe, USA and Australia and obtain their registration for export to Russia as well.

Copyright Mettis Link News