Mexican officials have been instructed to ensure that “every rice container from Pakistan be inspected” to protect Mexican crops from the risk of contamination. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: Rice exporters on Tuesday confirmed that Mexico’s customs officials have detained a large number of consignments of Pakistani rice, claiming that they were contaminated by grain beetles.
Leading rice exporters remain tight-lipped about the development in Mexico, and concerned government departments say they are still trying to find the details from the Pakistani commercial attaché in the South American state.
According to AFP, Mexican customs officials have quarantined 3,000 tons of rice exported by Pakistan, after they discovered that the shipment was contaminated by a tiny beetle that destroys grain products. It also said the quarantine department is inspecting around 120 containers of rice, and have yet to decide whether they will destroy the entire shipment or return it to Pakistan.
“I am confirming this news from different offices, and right now I have no information to share with media,” Jawed Ali Ghori, chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), said in response to The Express Tribune’s queries.
“Even if this is true, I do not think this incident will hurt the interests of Pakistani rice exporters in the future, because this is not an unusual occurrence in global grain trade,” Ghori said.
Mexican officials have been instructed to ensure that “every rice container from Pakistan be inspected” to protect Mexican crops from the risk of contamination, AFP reported.
Pakistan exports a small quantity of rice to Mexico. “Moreover, since we do not export a huge quantity of rice, I seriously doubt that the Mexican authorities have detained 120 containers,” a former chairman of REAP said.
The quarantine requirements of different countries are very strict regarding grain beetles and other pests in imported food consignments, as they disturb the fruit, vegetable and grain crops of the country that is receiving the contaminated product.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2013.
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CODEX alimentarius is the international body that sets the standards for the food including Rice. Rice exporters are suppose to follow these guidelines: It is recommended that the product covered by the provisions of this standard be prepared and handled in accordance with the appropriate sections of the Recommended International Code of Practice – General Principles of Food Hygiene (CAC/RCP 1-1969), and other Codes of Practice recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission which are relevant to this product. 5.2 To the extent possible in good manufacturing practice, the product shall be free from objectionable matter. 5.3 When tested by appropriate methods of sampling and examination, the product: – shall be free from micro-organisms in amounts which may represent a hazard to health; – shall be free from parasites which may represent a hazard to health; and – shall not contain any substance originating from micro-organisms, including fungi, in amounts which may represent a hazard to health.
It is about time that Rice exporter association should start testing rice also for Arsenic. A new international standard for arsenic in rice is in the final stages at the Codex.