Enhancing dairy sector export competitiveness - International Trade ...

ENHANCING DAIRY SECTOR EXPORT COMPETITIVENESS IN PAKISTANImport Regulationsi. A limited amount of processed or packaged food samples for product registration andconsideration for purchase can be brought in without an import license from the Food and DrugAdministration (FDA). However, samples of raw, fresh or frozen foodstuffs e.g. meat, vegetablesand fruits may be subject to other regulations established by the concerned authorities.ii.iii.For imported foods, a Thai label must be applied where needed prior to entry and be affixed toevery single item of food prior to marketing. Failure to apply the label before entry will lead toproduct seizure by the FDA. Note that the Thai FDA requires pre-approving of a label only forspecifically-controlled foods. For other foods, the food manufacturers or food importers areresponsible to prepare a product label complying with the Ministerial Notification No. 194 B.E.2543 Re: Labeling.Labels for food products sold directly to consumers shall be in Thai language with and shall havethe following details, except for those exempted by the FDA:a. Name of food.b. Food serial number.c. Name and address of manufacturer or repacker, as the case may be, together with the countrywhere the product is manufactured.d. Net content of food in metric system.iv.Powdered, dry or solid food products shall display net weight.v. Liquid food products shall display net volume.vi.vii.Semi-solid or semi-liquid food products can display either net weight or net volume.Other food products shall display net weight. Food products in sealed containers shall display netcontent as well as drained weight except food ingredients cannot be separated from the liquid part.Indonesiaa. Essential ingredients listed as percentage of the total, starting with the major ingredient. Forconcentrated products or those needing to be diluted or dissolved before consumption, theproportion of the products when diluted or dissolved must be displayed.The Food Act (1996) comprehensively covers legislative regulations relating to food besides reviewingthose already in place and creating new ones. It controls the domestic production, imports, processing anddistribution of food.Many of Indonesia's regulations related to marketing of food are unclear and confusing and therefore eitherthese are not enforced at all or are only enforced inconsistently. The most difficult problem for exportersshipping high valued products may be the requirement that all imported products be registered with theNational Agency for Drug and Food Control (BPOM) to obtain food registration (ML) number. In addition,some products require additional approval from BPOM and animal-based food requires an import permitfrom the Director General of Livestock in the Ministry of Agriculture.Import Regulationsi. Importer must obtain an import permit (SPP) or import recommendation before product is shipped.93