3.109.  The Ministry of National Food Security and Research has overall responsibility for formulating and implementing animal/plant quarantine and regulating pesticides. The main laws governing SPS measures in Pakistan are the Agriculture Pesticide Ordinance 1971, the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Act 1976, the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules 2019, the Pakistan Animal Quarantine Ordinance 1979, the Pakistan Animal Quarantine Rules 1980, and the Pakistan Fish Inspection and Quality Control Act 1997. As a member of Codex Alimentarius Commission, the World Organization for Animal Health (International Office of Epizootics), the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), and the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission, Pakistan adheres to their provisions, as well as to FAO guidelines. Within the Ministry, the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) is responsible for plant protection and quarantine, and the Animal Quarantine Department (AQD) is responsible for animal protection and quarantine. The Ministry is also designated as the national notification authority, while the enquiry point related to plants is the DPP and for animals it is the AQD; all have been notified to the WTO. Plant quarantine and protection

3.110.  The Pakistan Plant Quarantine Act 1976 read with the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules 2019 (PPQR), the Import Policy Order 2020, and IPPC and Codex Alimentarius guidelines govern imports of plants. Imports of regulated agricultural goods that fall under Category II, Category III, or Category IV of international sanitary and phytosanitary measures of the IPPC are permitted after a pest risk analysis (PRA) and an import risk analysis (IRA), as per Rule 10 of PPQR 2019 and IPPC guidelines. After finalizing a PRA, the DPP issues an import permit that details applicable phytosanitary measures required to be complied with before the goods arrive in Pakistan. Goods falling under Category I of ISPM‑32 of IPPC can be imported without a permit, phytosanitary certificate, or biosecurity clearance or plant protection release order. Import of certain goods from territories deemed high risk is either prohibited or restricted; the list of products and countries is detailed in Schedule I of the PPQR 2019, while Schedule II details the phytosanitary requirements for the importation of restricted or prohibited plants or plant material or regulated goods or articles. Schedule III of the PPQR 2019 provides the procedure for permitted imports

3.111.  Under the legislation, import of any seed, including cotton seed, requires a permit (Controlled Import Permit) from the DPP. For first-time imports of cotton seed, the DPP allows a maximum quantity of 1 kg. After importation, the DPP tests for invasive and alien biosecurity risks in a DPP‑approved post-entry quarantine facility for one crop season. If the seed variety is cleared, the seed can be put through Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department (FSCRD) trials prior to registration and entry in the Federal Seed Register. Once registered, seeds can be imported on a commercial basis. If the importable cotton seed is characterized as either a living modified organism (LMO) or a genetically modified organism (GMO), a licence from the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency is also required. The National Biosafety Committee under the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) evaluates application for import of LMO or GMO

3.112.  Pakistan has ratified the Cartagena Protocol of Biosafety, which came into force in May 2009. Pakistan maintains a framework of handling GMOs and LMOs, which requires: (i) that the importation is only made for research and experimentation purposes; (ii) a valid licence from the Pakistan Environmental Agency, and (iii) that the importer maintains a post‑entry quarantine facility duly approved by the Department, (which shall be open to an authorized officer in the event of research or experiments for inspection, and compliance audit at any reasonable time and importation is made from the countries that maintain regular plant quarantine, inspection, testing, and certification services). These rules are also stipulated in the Pakistan Biosafety Rules 2005, which also govern requirements for domestic GMOs and LMOs. Animal quarantine and protection

3.113.  Pakistan belongs to the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the International Office of Epizootics (OIE). The AQD administers the Animal Quarantine Ordinance 1979 and the Animal Quarantine Rules 1980. All imports of animal products must be accompanied by a valid veterinary health certificate issued by the official veterinary authority of the exporting country, as well as compliance with sanitary conditions specified in the Import Policy Order 2020, the Animal Quarantine Act 1979, and Animal Quarantine Rules 1980. The AQD approves imports of live animals, including animal semen and embryos, which must also be accompanied by quarantine certificates from the exporting country. Furthermore, as disease conditions change and differ over time, the AQD also consults with the national focal points for the OIE to ensure efficient and disease-free trade

3.114.  Under the Import Policy Order 2020 and the Animal Quarantine Rules 1980, imports are prohibited from any territory where SAT 1, 2, or 3 of the Foot and Mouth Disease virus are considered to exist, as are those of fur skins and manufactures thereof (Section 3.1.5). Import Policy Order 2020 also restricts the import of live animals, i.e. cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and commodities of animal origin. These can only be imported from countries that have negligible bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk. However, live poultry, day-old chicks, and other captive live birds (pet, game, wild, exotic, and fancy) can be imported from a territory that is not free from highly pathogenic avian influenza only after fulfilling additional certification requirements from the veterinary authority of the exporting country as detailed in Import Policy Order 2020

3.115.  The Import Policy Order list of prohibited imports is updated during the year, at the request of the affected country, in line with OIE recommendations; Pakistan accepts the "disease free" status of countries according to OIE results. Live animals require a maximum 22-day quarantine (minimum 7 days if the quarantine officer is satisfied with their health status). The National Veterinary Laboratory provides international-standard testing facilities, according to authorities, and works closely with provincial livestock services to analyse, monitor, plan, and formulate disease control and eradication programmes. According to the authorities, the Animal Quarantine (Import and Export of Animal and Animal Products) Rules 2021 have been submitted to the Cabinet for approval, and are expected to be implemented in 2022. Other foodstuffs

3.116.  Foodstuffs consumed in the country of origin are generally permitted. Codex standards and regulations apply to imported food, including additives, preservatives, vitamins, and MRLs of contaminants, e.g. pesticides. MRLs apply to both imports and exports (contingent on the requirements of the importing country). To prevent imports of cheap dyes hazardous to health, only specified food colours can be imported, and each consignment must have a government certificate of use or registration in the exporting country (Import Policy Order 2020). Imported foodstuffs, including ingredients, must have at least 66% of the original shelf life left upon importation (Import Policy Order 2020). Additionally, the authorities state that drafting of Pakistan's food safety regulations and standards was in process at the Ministry of National Food Security and Research and the DPP

3.101.  The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), which was established under the PSQCA Act 1996, continues to be the national standardization body. The PSQCA is responsible for developing and adopting standards; providing conformity/testing assessments; and advising the Government on standardization policies, programmes, and activities to promote industrial efficiency and development, as well as consumer safety and health

3.102.  The PSQCA participates as a subscribing member in five international standardization organizations: the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Legal Metrology (OIML), the WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade, and the IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components (IECEE). The PSQCA is also a member of regional standards organizations, including the South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO), the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), and the ECO Regional Institute of Standardization, Conformity Assessment, Accreditation, and Metrology (RISCAM). The PSQCA also serves as the National Enquiry Point for the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement).[189]

3.103.  As a member of ISO, the IEC, and the OIML, Pakistan continues to harmonize standards with international requirements. As of June 2021, it had 22,648 standard specifications. This is a significant reduction from over 30,000 at the time of the previous Review, as some standards have been withdrawn, while others have been merged. Standards cover mainly agriculture, foodstuffs, chemicals, civil and mechanical engineering, and textiles. Of these, 16,516 are adopted standards (ISO, IEC/OIML, and the American Society for Testing and Materials ((ASTM)), and 6,132 are national standards that, according to the authorities, are often based on regional or UK standards. Additionally, Appendix N of the 2020 Import Policy Order lists 114 products subject to the Compulsory Certification Mark License Scheme that must meet Pakistani standards on human safety and public health at the import stage.[190] These are considered to be mandatory standards. These goods must have a Certification Mark issued by the PSQCA to be made, stocked, or sold domestically, and domestic manufacturers and exporters to Pakistan must be registered with the PSQCA to ensure compliance

3.104.  Imports are subject to the same national quality standards or regulations as similar domestically made goods.[191] Imports and domestic goods undergo the same conformity testing procedures. The PSQCA has 47 registered inspection agencies with valid certificates and 8 accredited laboratories undertaking quality control services

3.105.  After Pakistan signed the WTO Agreement in 1995, the Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) was established in 1998 under the administrative control of the Ministry of Science and Technology. The PNAC Act was published in 2017. As the national apex body, PNAC's main objective is to accredit conformity assessment bodies (CABs) according to national and international standards, including testing and calibration laboratories according to ISO/IEC 17025; medical laboratories according to ISO 15189; inspection bodies according to ISO/IEC 17020; certification bodies according to ISO/IEC 17021-1; management system certificate including QMS (ISO 9001), EMS (ISO 14001); and new schemes like occupational health and safety (ISO 45001) and medical devices (ISO 13485). Since 2015, PNAC is also responsible for halal certification bodies according to PS:4992 and SMIIC-2, product certification bodies according to ISO/IEC 17065 (scheme launched in 2015), and an accreditation scheme for GLOBALG.A.P launched in 2021.[192] Additionally, accreditation for proficiency testing providers according to ISO/IEC 17043 was launched in 2015, and one for personnel certification according to ISO/IEC 17024 was launched in 2016

3.106.  PNAC accredits labs and certification bodies in Pakistan and abroad. PNAC is internationally recognized and has been performing accreditation for hundreds of CABs in the country. As of November 2021, PNAC has accredited more than 300 CABs, including 204 testing and calibration laboratories, 13 medical laboratories, 8 management certification bodies, 13 inspection bodies, 8 halal certification bodies, 4 proficiency testing providers, 1 product certification body, and 1 personnel certification body. During the review period, approximately 193 new accreditations were awarded and more than 100 are in the pipeline

3.107.  PNAC is a full member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), and a signatory member of the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC). PNAC has achieved Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) signatory status for testing and calibration laboratories from ILAC and Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) signatory status for quality management systems, environment management systems, and product certifications from the IAF. Furthermore, PNAC is the founding board member of the International Halal Accreditation Forum (IHAF) and a member of SMIIC. By virtue of these recognitions, certificates/reports issued by accredited conformity bodies are accepted around the world. Additionally, PNAC has signed MRAs/MLAs with the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), International Accreditation Forum (IAF), Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC)

3.108.  Since 2015, Pakistan has submitted 124 notifications to the WTO under the TBT Agreement covering health and safety standards. The notifications mainly encompass sampling and testing procedures, as well as labelling, packaging, storage, and transport of a number of food and other products. During the review period, one specific trade concern was raised against Pakistan regarding labelling, shelf life, and halal certification in the TBT Committee meeting in November 2019

3.117.  There continues to be no uniform labelling and marking system in Pakistan, and there have been no relevant changes from the previous Review. However, individual industries or sectors are subject to the regulations of specific bodies C for example, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination sets requirements for the pharmaceutical industry, and the Ministry of National Food Security and Research sets requirements for pesticides and edible products. Furthermore, labelling requirements are also prescribed under the Import Policy Order 2020, and these include, inter alia, that cigar and cigarette (of tobacco or of tobacco substitutes) packets should carry the warning "Smoking is injurious to heath" in English and Urdu. Dyes and chemicals must be marked with a full description, including quality and code numbers. Food colours must carry fair and true labelling about the product in both languages. Edible products should show that they are free of haram elements or ingredients. In February 2019, the Government enacted an SRO that bans the import of processed food products without labelling in the local language and a halal certification. This SRO[193] was incorporated in Import Policy Order 2020, and the import of foodstuffs now requires labelling in English and Urdu as well as the halal certification logo