6. Registration Processes

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General Foods
Pakistan

This section provides information on any product notification or registration and manufacturing site registration processes.

6.1 Product Notification

N/A

6.2 Product Registration

PSQCA has issued a list of mandatory products which are required to be registered with PSQCA.

However, when products are not in the list of Mandatory commodities regulated by PSQCA, as per the Decision of the National Standards Steering Committee in Pakistan held in February 2023 [1], it is mandatory to get the product registration from only One Provincial Authority and the same shall be applicable and accepted by other Provincial Authorities.

The best organized and online system for product registration exist with the Punjab Food Authority. As Other Authorities do not have well organized and online product registration platform they will accept the product registration done by Punjab Food Authority. However, after the product registration from the Punjab Food Authority, PSQCA will charge a marking fee of 0.5% of the cost of product as Pakistan Standard Logo imprinting fee.

In light of the above, the product registration process of the Punjab Food Authority is described below.

Application:

The Food Business Operator (FBO) must register through the following website using his National CNIC Number and Pakistani Mobile Number: https://cell.pfa.gop.pk/register?go_to=products
After Registration the FBO will receive a code through text message
With this Code, the FBO will be able to register on the online portal, fill the form and upload the label as well as Certificate of Analysis and Halal or other Claim Certificate on the portal and pay the application fee generated through the system.
If all the documents provided are accepted, then the sampling of the product from Open market is done for laboratory analysis, the applicant has to pay for the analysis cost.
If the product sample is compliant, then Applicant will be informed online. The applicant can also check himself the analysis result online through the portal.
After the compliance of product is ensured then final registration approval is received in 4 weeks' time.

The Checklist for Product Registration [2] is as follows:

Table 3: Checklist for brand/product registration with Punjab food authority

SR. NO.	ITEM / ASPECT/ REQUIREMENT
1	Challan Form Submitted (for fee payment)
2	Registration Form
3	Proof of Identity of Applicant
(i)	Copy of CNIC of Applicant/Authorized representative
(ii)	Authorization Certificate/Letter
4	Copy of License from PFA (if manufacturing Unit in territorial jurisdiction of Punjab)
5	Copy of previous Certificate of Product Registration (in case of renewal Application)
6	Raw Material/ Important Information
(i)	Raw Material List (complete)
(ii)	Contact details of supplier of raw material (Contact No. + Complete address etc.)
(iii)	Certificate of Analysis of each Raw Material along with Water Testing Report
(iv)	Halal Certificate of each Raw Material (if deemed applicable/ necessary)
7	Manufacturing Unit Information
(i)	Plant Layout as per Standards
(ii)	Process Flow/ Manufacturing Process
(iii)	Quality Management System (ISO, HACCP etc.) (if any)
(iv)	Specific Temperature for product manufacturing and storage.
8	Laboratory Information
(i)	List of Analytical Tests with reference
(ii)	Technical staff in Laboratory (Education + Experience)
(iii)	Record maintenance in Laboratory
9	Product and Label Specification
(i)	Finished Product Specification (Physical, Chemical and Biological)
(ii)	Certificate of Analysis of Final Product
(iii)	Organic Certification (in case of claim)
(iv)	Shelf Life of Final Product, Parameters and Methods used to determine Shelf life
(v)	Specimen of Labeling (Approved Label)
10	Halal Certification of Final product (in case of claim)
11	Packaging Information
(i)	Packaging Material Type
(ii)	Food Grade Certificate of Packaging Material
12	Recall Policy for expired and Hazardous stock
13	Discard policy of Substandard Product
14	List of Distributions/Marts/Shops, etc. with complete address and contact number where product is available for sale

Note:
Documents should be properly signed and stamped
Documents should be in legible writing and language
Documents should not be expired (i.e. Halal, COA/ COC and ISO certificate etc.)

6.3 Other Notes or Requirements

Product Notification

N/A

Product Registration

N/A

6.4 Manufacturing Site Registration

The manufacturing site has to be registered at least for one site in Pakistan. Registration in Punjab is recommended when products are not in the list of Mandatory commodities regulated by PSQCA. Also, other provincial Authorities accept the registration of premises done with Punjab Food Authority (PFA). Registration of Manufacturing site is known as Licensing of Premises in Pakistan.

The Food Operator can apply for a food business license for either manufacturing site or food service store through the following process [3]:

PFA Website: https://cell.pfa.gop.pk/register?go_to=business
PFA Mobile Application
One Window at the District Office
Field Team

The Food Operator needs the following documents while applying for a license:

Applicant Image
CNIC (Front-Back)
Business Image

Turn Around Time

The timeline for processing a license application is 7 working days.
After the approval of the license, the details are sent to the proofreading and printing section for dispatch to FBO within 15 days.

Mode of Delivery of License