ood safety is fundamental in achieving food security and nutrition objectives. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, one in five people in Pakistan suffer from foodborne illnesses. The high rate—twice the global average—leads to an estimated productivity loss of $1.7 billion, annually.

Achieving food safety is imperative because it results in reduced disease burden and enhanced productivity and creates the conditions necessary for finding an entry into export markets. According to a research, Pakistan has substantial untapped potential to increase exports of agricultural products estimated at $12.5 billion. However, quality concerns have so far prevented Pakistani producers from tapping into the dynamic global agro-product markets. The reputation of Pakistani products has been negatively influenced by repeated restrictions and rejections of agro-products in key target markets such as the European Union, the US and the GCC countries due to food safety concerns.

The recent use of tariffs under President Trump is a new phenomenon. Earlier, it was non-tariff measures, largely sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards, that were extensively used by importing countries to restrict market access in agriculture commodities, especially fruits, vegetables and grains, citing health and safety concerns. Pakistan’s exports of mangoes, citrus and other fruits and vegetables have been restricted access on account of residual content, pests and microbial presence. Pakistan’s rice exports had—at one point—faced restrictions and stringent scrutiny in certain markets (the EU, Russia and Uzbekistan) due to high pesticide residues and Aflatoxin contamination.

The restrictions are not unique to Pakistan; they extend to the developing world in general. The cost of compliance for exporting agri-commodities to meet standards dictated by importing countries is very high. But non-compliance effectively keeps you out of the market. For example, for six years—from 2007 to 2013—Pakistan faced a ban on the export of sea-food to the EU resulting in an estimated $300 million loss to the exchequer. In 2013, after an upgrade of systems to meet the EU standards, Pakistan was able to resume exports of seafood to the region.

At the national level, the Pure Food Act, 1960, has an important role in ensuring the provision of safe food for the people of Pakistan. Since, food safety is a provincial subject, provincial governments have brought in their own structures and enacted rules to enforce the law. Food Authorities are the arm of the provincial governments overseeing the provision of safe food to the people. The Punjab Food Authority is the oldest one. It has been followed by authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh. The Food Authorities are primarily responsible for regulating the downstream segments of the food chain, including manufacturing, trading, distribution and retail. They focus on hygiene, cleanliness, adulteration and the quality of food ingredients, additives etc used by food operators. Thus, they come very late in the chain. The problem starts at the farm level, which is not their jurisdiction.

Globally, food safety falls within the ambit of the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary Measures, to which Pakistan is a signatory. To implement SPS at the national level, the government had approved a policy back in 2021, called the Pakistan National Quality Policy. This policy has been designed to ensure all products, whether locally produced or imported for local consumption and needs or for export purposes, must meet basic health and safety requirements. At the time of the PNQP approval, it was estimated that Rs 1.22 billion would be required to implement the framework proposed under the new policy. Perhaps, it is time now to review its performance.

In May 2025, the federal government brought several changes to harmonise food standards applicable at the national level and for export purposes by establishing a new body, the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority. The Plant Protection and Animal Quarantine Departments have been abolished. Their responsibilities have been merged into this new body. It will be governed by a high-powered board of directors comprising provincial secretaries of Agriculture and Food and Livestock Departments; federal representatives from food security and research, commerce, climate change, science and technology and finance ministries; two representatives from academic or research institutes; and three representatives from the industry, including the FPCCI. It’s heartening to see that two women representatives will be part of the NAFSA board.

The NAFSA, as the ordinance states, has been given wide-ranging powers to implement sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures across Pakistan, including the registration and regulation of food and pesticide businesses, as well as nation-wide oversight of food safety. How the NAFSA will interact with Food Authorities on food safety issues is not clear though.

At this point, it is unclear how much acceptance the NAFSA will receive from the provinces. After the 18th Amendment, agriculture, food and food safety have become provincial subjects with little room for the federation to exercise its powers in these domains till a consensus is reached in the Council of Common Interest. However, the creation of NAFSA appears to be a step in the right direction. Harmonisation of food safety standards and their uniform implementation across provinces, covering production, manufacturing, trading etc of food and agri-products for local consumption or for exports, is what is required to ensure food safety.

The writer works at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute. The views expressed are solely his and do not necessarily reflect the position of SDPI. He can be reached at qasim@sdpi.org