Rice Consignment Impounded

The authorities at the Khour al-Zubair harbour in Basra have impounded 20 tons of rice imported from Pakistan because it had passed its expiry date. The manager of Basra governor Mohammed Musbeh’s office, Jafar al-Yaseri, told Al-Sabah newspaper that the governor had approved a document issued by the trade ministry stating that the rice did not comply with food standards. Basim al-Musawi, a member of Basra’s provincial council member and the head of the anti corruption committee, has asked all agencies to work together to avoid any breaches of the regulations applying to foodstuffs coming in via ports and to ensure it is fit for human consumption.