PYCA urges checks on industry influence in food standards

ISLAMABAD, Oct 14 (APP): Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA) on Wednesday urged the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) to ensure transparency and independence in Pakistan’s food standards-setting process, warning that proposed changes to its National Standard Setting Committee for Agriculture and Food Products (NSCAF) must not allow commercial interests to undermine public health.

In a press statement, PYCA welcomed PSQCA’s decision to postpone the committee’s scheduled meeting following concerns raised last week. It called for inclusive consultations and balanced representation in any decision on the committee’s composition, including public-health professionals, independent civil society experts and relevant government institutions.

“Any proposed reconstitution of the committee should involve meaningful consultations with stakeholders, including provincial food authorities, civil society organisations, public health experts, credible food scientists, independent academicians, and the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, as the federal custodian of public health,” said Areebah Shahid, Executive Director of PYCA.

She stressed that food and beverage companies, including through front groups, should not exert direct or indirect commercial influence over national food standards setting.

She also called for conflict-of-interest disclosures by all committee members to ensure decisions serve the public interest.

Areebah said national food standards had direct implications for public health and consumer protection, making the independence of those involved in developing them critical to the credibility of the process.

Afshar Iqbal, Director of Communications and Advocacy at PYCA, said international guidance, including the World Health Organization’s conflict-of-interest framework and Codex Alimentarius principles, emphasised impartiality and scientific integrity in food standards-setting.

PYCA said industries directly affected by public-health regulation could be consulted transparently where appropriate, but their participation should not extend to policy formulation, regulatory decision-making, standard-setting or oversight of their own activities.

The organisation stressed that national food standards must be based on independent scientific evidence and protect consumers from decisions driven by vested commercial interests.