Food companies: Saudi delegation to inspect facilities and award licences

Hopes to ensure supply of quality food products to Saudi Arabia.

RIYADH: A delegation of the Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA) has left for Pakistan to hold talks with major players in the Pakistani food sector. The delegation wishes to register food sector companies in order to ensure exports of food products, including meat, to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi delegation will visit 17 food companies and slaughter houses in Pakistan to assess facilities, award licences and register their names.

It will also sign Memorandums of Understanding with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, Arab News has reported. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Muhammad Naeem Khan said that the delegation comprises six veterinary doctors led by Saudi expert Dr Saleh Abdullah Al-Hamid.

The delegation plans to boost exports of a range of food commodities from Pakistan; mainly meat, poultry and fish products. It will visit Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi to assess overall conditions of animal vaccination, food systems, health certification, trace systems for animals, food products and surveillance and control against animal diseases like influenza, H1N1 etc.

“Due to the Saudi delegation’s visit, it is expected that the export of food products from Pakistan will soon exceed $50 million annually,” Khan said.

Their visit will allow Pakistani companies like K&Ns and Seasons Foods to sell their products in the Saudi market.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2012.