Exporters of FMCGs express concern over SRO-237 issued by Commerce Ministry

March 12, 2019: A delegation of local importers and fast moving consumers goods businessmen (FMCGs) on Tuesday visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and expressed their concerns over SRO-237, issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Textile Industry.

They said that Ministry of Commerce and Textile has issued SRO-237(1)/2019, on February 19 to make further amendments in the Import Policy Order 2016, but these amendments would cause lot of problems for the local importers and FMCGs.

The delegation members said that SRO-237 required the printing of food products packaging both in Urdu and English with details of ingredients, nutritional facts and usage instructions. It also required Halal Certificate issued by a Halal Certification Body accredited with an Accrediting Body, which was a member of International Halal Accreditation Forum or Standards Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries.

They said fulfilling these requirements would be quite difficult for importers and would badly affect the imports and urged the government for withdrawing SRO-237 to save importers and FMCGs from further troubles.

Speaking at the occasion, Ahmed Hassan Moughal, President, ICCI  said that government had assured to take measures for improving ease of doing business, but such SROs would make doing business more difficult instead of making it easy.

He urged the government for reviewing amendments made in Import Policy through SRO 237 as these would hamper the smooth running of businesses.

He said importers and FMCGs were paying billions to national exchequer through tax besides providing jobs to millions of people, but such amendments in Import Policy would make things tougher for importers.

Rafat Farid Seniorr Vice President and Iftikhar Anwar Sethi Vice President ICCI said that approaching foreign Halal authorities for certification was problematic as it would jack up the cost of doing business.

They stressed the need for establishing such certification authorities within the country as obtaining certifications from foreign authorities was more difficult.

(APP)