20000108

TBT fear: Pak sports

wear may lose

European market

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Pakistan's exports of sportswear, a major export item which fetches a huge amount of foreign exchange for the country, is in danger of being removed from the shelves of retailers in Europe, particularly Germany, if these are found tributylzin (TBT) contaminated.

The Pakistan Germany Business Council (PGBC) of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry has expressed serious concern on this development following reports that contaminated sport textiles, supplied by manufacturers in the USA and developing countries, were removed on Thursday from the shelves of leading German retailers, i.e., Karstadt and Kaufhof, because traces of highly poisonous TBT were found.

The PGBC board of directors is likely to have an emergency meeting to discuss the situation and take up the matter, in all seriousness, with the Export Promotion Bureau. There is need to ascertain as to whether Pakistani textiles were TBT contaminated. According to a source, chemical analyisis might be diffcult here for want of required equipment.

The TBT is used in textile industry, mainly in the USA, for treatment against sweat and bacteria. It is also used in ship paints to fight against algae (seaweed) and snails. There are reports that in this sector the TBT will be banned completely in the year 2003. The poisonous contents of the TBT damage liver and the nerve system.

In fact the PGBC has recommended to its members to take this matter very seriously and either change the products immediately or totally stop export of TBT affected products to Germany forthwith because in the coming weeks "great turbulences" could be expected in the German market.

The incomplete list of products, which have been identified as contaminated so far comprises T-shirts from an internationally reputed sports goods manufacturer and several other internationally brand names in the field of socks, sport tops and bicycle trousers, etc. Expressively mentioned are T-shirts for football fans from a leading U.S manufacturer, who has supplied hundreds of thousands of T-shirts for football fans in Germany.

According to the Willi Kuhne of the German Federal Institute of Health Protection for Consumers, the source of contamination, whether yarn or dyes or something else, is completely unknown so far. It is expected that the matter may be taken up publicly in Germany.

It has been seriously recommended that Pakistani manufacturers of sport tricots look into the matter and stop production immediately to prevent high damages as the retailers would ask the suppliers not only to take back the goods, but may also ask for compensation for the losses.

Experts are, however, of the opinion that Pakistan Government is not well prepared to advise, assist and support the Pakistani manufacturers and exporters. Even some of the tests can not be made because of lack of suitable laboratories.