20000113

Bid to export

fish to EU on

fake papers folled

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Collectorate of Customs (Export) foiled an attempt to export a container load of fish valued at Rs. 2 million to European Union (EU) on forged certificate of health and origin issued by the Marine Fisheries Department.

A Press release issued by the Collectorate says that an FIR had been lodged against the exporter, Noor Sons Enterprise of Karachi, and the seized fish had been handed over to the Marine Fisheries Department.

In order to circumvent the quality control regulations prescribed by the Marine Fisheries Department, the Noor Sons, who are not eligible to export fish to the EU, prepared a fake certificate, affixed a stamp and forged the signature of the official concerned of the Marine Fisheries Department to ship the fish container to the UK.

The detection of the fraudulent export saved the country from disrepute in the vital seafood market of the European Union which might have resulted in a ban on export of seafood from Pakistan, says the announcement.

In the past also the export of fish and its products to European Union was banned for three months on account of export of low quality fish which was not in line with the prescribed seafood standards required in European Union.

The export was resumed only after the visit of EU inspectors to the facilities in Pakistan meant for processing and packing of seafood. They selected only 10 fish processing plants for export of fish to the Union.

The vice chairman of Export Promotion Bureau and director general of Marine Fisheries Department have lauded the Customs action, the Press release added.