LAHORE: Label printing both in Urdu & English languages giving details of the product including nutritional fact, usage instructions is challenged in the Lahore High Court.Lahore High Court (LHC) issued notice to the federal government and sought reply.
The counsel for appellant informed to the court that the federal government has issued notification mentioning imported food items should have label printed both in Urdu & English languages giving details of the product including nutritional fact, usage instructions.
Adding more there is no restriction on the local manufactured good items so its discrimination with the imported goods and this act of government violating the constitution of Pakistan. Constitution does not allow any discrimination.
After the eighteen amendments the legislation regarding the food items is responsibility of provincial government. Federal government notification is above the law and court may null and void government notice regarding label on imported food items.
Earlier, Ministry of Commerce & Textile was amended the import policy has made it compulsory on the importers that the consumer packaging of the imported food items should have label printed both in Urdu & English languages giving details of the product including nutritional fact, usage instructions etc.
According to a notification SRO 237 (1)/2019 issued by the Ministry recently, it has also been asked the importers that their imported items should have logo of the Halal certification body on the consumer packaging and the labels should not be in the form of a sticker, overprinting, stamp or scratched labeling.
Under the new order, the imported shipment shall also accompanied by a ‘Halal Certificate’ issued by a Halal Certification Body, accredited with an Accrediting Body which is a member of International Halal Accreditation Forum (IHAF) or Standards Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC).
