MoST to review proposal for mandatory date labels on cement bags

Islamabad, The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) will forward a proposal to the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) to consider mandatory disclosure of manufacturing and expiry dates on cement bags. This proposal, initiated by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), aims to enhance transparency and consumer protection in the cement industry.

According to Competition Commission of Pakistan, the proposal was discussed in a recent meeting between CCP members and MoST officials, including the participation of Member OFT Saeed Ahmad Nawaz and Additional Secretary Ali Tahir. The proposal, first issued on March 7, 2024, seeks to amend National Cement Standards to require that cement bags sold locally display manufacturing, packaging, and expiry dates, a practice already mandatory for exported cement.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that the lack of disclosure on locally sold cement bags violates Section 10 of the Competition Act, 2010, due to the hygroscopic nature of cement, which requires careful handling and storage. The meeting concluded with a decision to refer the matter to the PSQCA for further review in a Technical Committee meeting scheduled for May 7, 2024. Additionally, plans were made to organize a stakeholder meeting involving cement manufacturers to discuss the proposed standards and potential enforcement actions.