1. Introduction
An increase in the world population and its relation to trade has given rise to many food safety problems, especially in underdeveloped countries are affected by this problem. There is no doubt that food safety is a big challenge for under-developed countries, these countries have to overcome food safety issues to enhance their economy. WHO says the economy of under-developed countries is affected by food-born illness by increasing the ratio of disease in that region. The reason for the situation is the lack of monitoring facilities by the Government. Because many of the foodborne diseases remain not less. Many multinational organizations are working in developed and under-developed countries to ensure food safety in the world.
If we talk about the priorities of WHO food safety is in the top 11, this organization making astronomical efforts in this aspect. Due to foodborne illness in the world, life is affected by many brakes; Children are mostly affected by this issue in developed and Underdeveloped countries. If we want to overcome the issues of Poverty and Hunger in the region, then we have to improve the food safety conditions. Many common diseases like kidney issues include salmonella, listeria, campylobacter, or E-coli. Tuberculosis is transferred through animals and people belonging to villages are mostly affected by this issue. Millions of people are affected by intestinal problems which are caused by water contamination. Foodborne diseases account for a major challenge for developing societies. According to an estimate, there are around 15,00 diarrheal affairs befall worldwide, out of which 75% are due to biological defilement & aftereffect in 3 million deaths of children ranging from age 5 or less.
2. Food Safety Legislation in Pakistan
Everyone has concerned about food safety for its health. Food consumption is basic for survivorship of life, food safety problems are bosom for all of us. If we talk in simple words, the things we chew or drink should be free from contamination, and safe for humans. If we want to deliver safe food for the people living in the region, we have to take steps to increase the level of the food chain i.e. production techniques, storage conditions, supply techniques, transport facilities, and consumption. If we see, that the government and citizens are the two main investors to ensure food safety in the country. Food producers/industrialists play a major role in food safety, but we will not discuss this in this article.
The focus of the article is on the role of government and the citizens of the country to achieve the food safety levels by enforcement or by proper legislation, the reason for the implementation is to authorize the state, and the citizen has to play a major role in the implementation of legislative sachem offered by the government. The state provides the legal configuration, including several conditions for providing safe food to the people. These include banning the sale of adulterated products, biosafety measures by keeping different Sops and etc. Every country has its own framework to ensure food safety, according to its religion and beliefs. If we talk about Pakistan, there is no infrastructure but we have a set of laws according to Islam, to ensure food safety in the country. If the government had played its role to implement these laws a long time ago then we have solved many of the problems regarding food safety. But like other laws, food safety laws are very down for implementation.
3. Law dealing with Food Safety in Pakistan
There is a number of laws related to food safety in Pakistan. However, these laws have categories according to the need, there are different laws for the hygiene production of food products, saving transport of the products and the supply of food products, and as a whole, we can say there are laws from Farm to Fork to ensure the food safety of the products.
There are four laws in Pakistan that particularly bargain with food safety. Three of these laws have a direct relation to issues affiliated with food safety, while 4th law is named Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority Act (PSQCA), but is indirectly related to food hygiene. A short review of these laws is given ahead:
3.1. The Pure Food Ordinance
This law was passed in 1960, this law deal with hygiene production or preparation of food product & the sale of these food products. All the provinces In Pakistan and some areas on the Northern sides adopted this law by making some corrections to it. The main purpose of this law is to make sure that the purity of food is being delivered to the citizen in the market, by preventing the addition of adulterants. The law forbids any person to add or mix color, stain, or powder in any food product. If the addition of these is more than the limit set by the rules, so it’s likely to make food products injurious to human health.
The food safety laws in Pakistan have standard limits for coloring components, preservative use while processing, flavoring compound, antioxidants, stabilizers, anticaking agents, non-nutritive components, and metals. This law also bans the selling, preparation, production, import, and export of such food products which are adulterated beyond the limits and it is also harmful to consumption. This law has also standards for the packaging of food products and caution measures are taken during storage and packaging. There are four attributes that should be followed to ensure the purity of the food product:
1) It bans the production of such food products which are harmful to human intake e.g. products that can cause food poisoning.
2) It forbids the import and export or selling of hazardous food products.
3) Certain hygiene criteria.
4) It facilitates the laboratory analysis of the food samples which cohere to set criteria. It is the responsibility of the government to implement the law. The laws regarding food safety vary from area to area and the Panelist also has different criteria according to that area.
The pure Food ordinance 1960 is not applicable to troop areas. There is a separate law for troops known as “The Cantonment Pure Food Act, 1966”. There are no major differences between the Pure Food Act 1960 and the Cantonment Pure Food act 1966. Even the operational rules are very much similar.
4. Public Monitoring
The existing laws have greatly contributed to the public monitoring implementation of food safety. Following are the points for public monitoring of food safety laws:
1) According to the pure food ordinance 1960, it is the right of the citizen to analyze food samples. If the sample is dubious for contamination, the person can write the application to the food inspector or health inspector asking him to buy the sample of food products from the specified person mentioned in the application for inspection. The applicant has to pay for the sample being purchased and if the sample is found to be adulterated, the money paid by the applicant will be refunded.
2) The pure food ordinance 1960, bans the production, preparation, or storage for the purpose of sale of such products that are unfit for consumption. It is the foremost responsibility of the citizens to look around them and inform the local authority about the person who is fond of the preparation and production of such products which are harmful to potential users.
3) Any person running a hotel, restaurant, sweetmeat shop or any other eating place should have a health certificate from the health officer of the area. It should be mentioned in the certificate that he/she is selling food safe for consumption. A person can ask for the certificate, and in case of failure, he/she can write a complaint to the health inspector of the area.
5. Food Safety & Write to Information
If proper information is provided to the government, so it will use that information to take make measures in solving the public issues about food safety. It is the right of the citizen to access the information of the government department under Freedom of The Ordinance 2002. This law is also applicable to the Federal government and departments attached to it. However, the federal government has not acted on this legislation regarding the information on provinces and has not publically issued data about any information.
In Pakistan, departments are working on the testing of water and other components which are used for the preparation of products in industry or at home. For instance, the National Institute of Health (NIH) & Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), these departments have conducted laboratories test for bottled water brands, many times and they found many brands inappropriate for consumption but they never leaked the information about these brands as it is illegal in accordance to the law.
Different types of tests are performed on comestible oil and Banaspatti ghee by Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) being prepared in Karachi, but PSQCA never exposed the names of these brands which are unfit for consumption. Pakistan’s food imports are controlled by the Federal government and the measures to fulfill Food Safety Standards are insured by the Provincial governments.
5.1. Pure Food Laws (PFL)
In 2011, the PFL of 1963 was revised and now, they are considered basics for the trade-related food quality and the safety framework. Under this law, 9 apparent groups of food products are made which covers 104 food items. Following are the classes of these products:
1) Milk and Milk Products.
2) Edible oil and Fat Products.
3) Beverages.
4) Food Grains and Cereals.
5) Starchy food spices and Condiments.
6) Sweetening agents.
7) Fruits and vegetables & miscellaneous foods.
5.2. Provincial Government
Following are the departments having the responsibility to check and balance the raw material being used in the production of food products:
1) Department of Health.
2) Department of Plant Protection.
3) Livestock/Dairy Depart
6. Punjab Food Authority
In Pakistan, under the government of Punjab, an agency named Punjab Food Authority (PFA) is running to facilitate the citizens of Punjab with hygiene food products & to aware the people about the awareness of food safety & its importance. It was founded in 2011. It was the first department of its type in our country. Two acts were passed in 2011, named “Punjab Food Authority Act 2011” & “Pure Food Rules 2011” to enforce the rules for Quality standards as described in the laws.
6.1. Responsibilities of PFA
Following are the responsibilities which are fulfilled by the PFA in accordance with the Act 2011;
1) They have to monitor the activities of different industries dealing with food product manufacturing, to ensure the supply of safe food for the consumers.
2) They have to maintain standards & create new rules & standards for different types of food products & also for food additives & packaging.
3) They have to maintain the standards of their Testing Laboratories & have to Upgrade their Procedures & Equipment according to new rules & technology.
4) They play an important role in organizing the training sessions for the citizens & stakeholders.
5) To trace the production lines of different food products & hygiene measures of the industry.
6.2. Enforcement Mechanism & Tools
Different types of methods are used by PFA to enforce the standards discussed in the PFA act of 2011.
Following are the methods;
1) Sending Notice to the Stakeholder.
2) By Fining the Industry.
3) Seize a specific product or the whole industry.
4) Recall in the food product light of Laws.
6.3. Punjab Food Authority Act of 2011
According to the PFA act 2011, a Food or Food Product will be adulterated if;
1) Which is not Natural.
2) The substance that affects the Environment & Health of consumers.
3) Which is not Processed according to standards & has additives beyond the standard limits.
4) Any product that contains Poisonous components.
5) Which is kept in unhygienic conditions.
7. Conclusion
According to the recent conditions of food safety in Pakistan, it’s a big challenge for the economy of the country to overcome these conditions. To save a country from the worst conditions, it is necessary to take safety measures on time. Foodborne diseases are alarming conditions for the country among which diarrhea is most common in children, we have to overcome this issue because our future is based on our children. The improvement of farm hygiene will also contribute to food safety’s major concern of food quality. Food is one of the basic necessities of humans.
The number of variety of scientific techniques has been developed to protect consumers and also to screen for adulteration in food. Advanced tools and research efforts should continue to be applied to address all food quality and to ensure brand and consumer protection. Food integrity includes primary production, storage, processing, packaging, distribution, retail, and product consumption to recognize or analyze unwanted food ingredients in the food supply line that would impact public health and food safety. moreover, to control contamination and minimize the risk of unfit consumption of food. The best way to stay healthy is well informed about the basic principle of food handling and safe food production.
Authors: Waqar Ibrahim & Ayesha Shafique
Degree: B.Sc (Hons)
Major Subject: Food Science & Technology
Department: Food Science and Nutrition
University: University of Sargodha, Pakistan
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Is there any beverages regulatory body in Pakistan?
Ask from PSQCA
The article is really informative and need of the hour. We should concerned about the Food Safety in relation to public health.
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