South Asia

LAHORE: De-regulation of meat prices in local market is a prerequisite to improve the product’s supply in the country and to increase the country’s share in the $1.3 billion global Halal food trade, said a study.

“The first and fundamental step for increasing meat export is to de-cap price in the local market,” the Center for Applied Policy Research in Livestock at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) said in the research study.

The research paper, titled ‘Pakistan Meat Exports: Strategising Productivity Enhancement’ was conducted after gathering inputs from all the stakeholders. Outlining short, medium and long term measures for enhancing share in global meat market, the study said the local market of meat has been developing at a very slow pace because of price capping.

It said Pakistan’s meat exports have a huge potential in the world. The country’s geographical location favours livestock farming. Pakistan has a significant number of animals, reasonable number of meat processors/abattoirs, and exporters but the bottleneck is lack of effective marketing and supply chain, it added.

The study said global Halal food trade is estimated at approximately $1.3 billion a year, which was $0.5 billion five to six years ago.  The policy paper highlights the country’s meat export scenarios within the existing resources, including farmers, meat processors, exporters, supply chain management, marketing approaches and funds.

It said local exporters are vying for 8-10 percent share in global carcass (meat with bones) market, but neglecting 90-92 percent share of frozen boneless and value-added meat products internationally.

India has become the world’s largest exporter of meat products in 2017 with 1,925,000 metric tonnes exports, largely comprising boneless meat, while China’s growing population and demand for food products have made the country one of the world’s biggest importers of meat/meat products of 950,000 metric tonnes, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. The animal protein consumption by human will rise to 37-kilogramme by 2030 from the present 25.5-kg.

The center recommended short-term measures, including complete identification of meat in local market indicating its source and international standardisation of meat products in assistance with UVAS.

The research study called for a ban on export of less than 150-kg carcass, terming it vital to enhance output of every single animal being exported and increase meat output of each animal.

It also stressed a need to establish backward linkages of meat exporters with feedlot farmers for consistent export of quality meat, in addition to registration of feedlot fattening farms with meat processing and exporters association along with livestock departments for traceability.

Efficient customs and quarantine assistance through sea shipments are also required along with credit insurance for exporters and establishment of a database of feedlot farmers registered with an authority connecting exporters for supply chain development.

The study also called for a national policy for eradication of foot and mouth disease to enable export to countries, like Indonesia, Russia, China and Brunei.  Easy loans are also needed to set up a supply chain from feedlot farmer to local meat brands and/or meat exporters.

It also highlighted the importance of establishing disease free zones to produce healthy and disease free meat products as per the international standards. The study attaches the topmost importance to breed improvement and establishment of a meat product development center at UVAS, which can develop ready to cook meat products. Top meat exporters can be provided with subsidy on taxation/duties as incentives and motivation for others, it said.

Originally published on www.thenews.com.pk

KARACHI (Daily Dunya) – A recent study by Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry states that Pakistan’s meat industry is growing at annual rate of 27pc.

In 2003, the trade volume of halal food was $14 million which had piled up to $244 million in 2015 with 708,968 tons of meat exported. The above mentioned stats make Pakistan 19th largest exporter of meat in the world.

Analysts call for comprehensive policy to tackle challenges pertaining to meat industry. It is pertinent here to mention that New Zealand, which is much smaller than Pakistan in both size and population, is world leader in the halal export market.

originally published on www.dunyanews.tv

LAHORE: Halal food can take the country’s exports to new heights, but the government continues to ignore it. Halal food, particularly beef and meat is another potential where Pakistan enjoys huge advantage. The global trade of halal food has exceeded $300 billion.

Halal beef, mutton and chicken markets are dominated by non-Muslim economies, as most of the Middle Eastern Muslim economies import halal food from Australia, Brazil and other non-Muslim countries.

Abdul Basit, president of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said that halal food has substantial market in non-Muslim regions, as well. Europe, for instance, imports halal meat worth $66 billion. France with the imports worth $17 billion is the largest importer of halal meat among European countries.

Punjab Halal Food Board chairman former justice Khalilur Rehman said that global halal food market is up for grab for Pakistan. Halal food and Pakistan are synonymous, as only pure halal meat and other foods are consumed by its entire population.

Still, he said, to export halal food, the exporters need certification from the world Halal Food Board that not only ensures that proper process of slaughtering is practiced, but also the global food hygiene standards are adhered to.

Rehman said that there is a discrepancy that has to be addressed in line with the Shariah laws. Non-Muslim countries stun the animal or birds before slaughtering, he said, adding that in Pakistan, stunning has been declared against the Shariah.

There is a need to create awareness among Muslim countries that slaughtering after stunning is against the spirit of Shariah, he said, adding that this message has been propagated and accepted by some Muslim countries.

Now, the government has to facilitate halal food exporters by making some amendments in the law and quick decisions at the bureaucratic level. There are a few issues on halal practices in Pakistan, but the major concerns of the exporters are head and mouth disease in cattle and bird flu in birds, he added.

Rehman said that after study it was found out that India resolved this issue by creating zones for cattle stocks. A UN-sponsored body visits each zone and after getting satisfied declares that particular zone is free from foot and mouth disease, he added.

That removes the hurdle on the suitability of meat consumption if exports were made from cleared zone. He said after hectic efforts these zones have been established in Punjab, at least. Now, the UN team has been invited to give its report.

In the meantime, he said, PHA received a request from Chinese halal meat importers to visit Pakistan and set up quarantine facilities before exports are allowed.

The Chinese just needed an official invitation from Pakistan in this regard, he said, adding that PHA has requested P&D Department of the Punjab government to issue the invitation, but to no avail.

Basit said that the processed poultry imported by Muslim countries is conditional to the use of spices of certain specifications that are not produced in Pakistan.

The government has imposed a cumulative duty of 68 percent. This increases the cost of processed meat, he said. It is ironic that processed chicken import from countries with which Pakistan has signed free trade agreements (FTA) are allowed at zero duty.

He said these countries use same inputs on which local processors pay 68 percent duty. “It is unfortunate that instead of exporting halal meat, we are promoting import of halal meat from non-Muslim countries.” If duty on those inputs is abolished, the import from even zero-rated countries would stop and Pakistan would embark on sustained export path. Only halal meat exports could double Pakistan’s exports in the next five years, he added.

Originally published on www.thenews.com.pk

The abysmal reality on the ground is just another matter, though. A 2016 study by the KCCI placed Pakistan as the 19th largest meat exporter with beef being a preferred commodity.

It also claims that meat industry here has grown at an annualised rate of 27% from $14 million in 2003 to $244 million in 2015 with 708,968 tons of meat exported. New Zealand, remote and much smaller in size compared to Pakistan, is the world leader in the halal export market.