Pakistan's poultry sector depends on safe, consistent feed. That is why the Government has placed poultry feed on the list of compulsory items that must meet Pakistan Standards before they can be sold. If you run a feed mill or plan to launch a feed brand, you need a Certification Marks licence from the Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).
This guide explains the standard, who needs the licence, and what a feed mill specifically has to have in place before PSQCA officers arrive.
Is PSQCA certification mandatory for poultry feed?
Yes. PSQCA's list of compulsory items includes poultry feeds under PS 233-2012 (4th revision). Balanced feed mixture for livestock is also compulsory, under PS 234-2016. Manufacturing or selling these products without a valid licence and the certification mark can lead to enforcement action.
| Product | Pakistan Standard | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Poultry feeds | PS 233-2012 (4th Rev.) | Compulsory |
| Balanced feed mixture for livestock | PS 234-2016 (1st Rev.) | Compulsory |
Who needs a PSQCA licence?
- Feed mills producing broiler, layer or breeder feed
- Companies selling feed under their own brand, including feed made for them by another mill
- Importers of finished poultry feed into Pakistan
- Livestock feed producers, under PS 234
If you are setting up a new feed business, the company itself comes first. PSQCA asks for proof that the firm exists, so complete your SECP company registration before you apply.
What does PS 233 cover?
PS 233 sets the quality requirements for poultry feeds: the nutritional and physical parameters each feed type must meet, how samples are taken and tested, and how bags must be marked. Typical parameters include moisture, crude protein, crude fibre and other composition and safety limits for each feed type.
Get the current copy of the standard from PSQCA and build your in-house quality plan around its exact limits. Inspectors test against those numbers, not against your formulation sheet.
Labelling and marking
Once licensed, each bag must carry the PSQCA certification mark along with the labelling the standard requires. That typically means product name and type, the manufacturer's name and address, batch or lot number, date of manufacture, net weight and composition details. Printing the mark without a valid licence is an offence.
How the licence process works for a feed mill
PSQCA uses the same Certification Marks route for every compulsory product. What changes is what the officers look for at each stage. For a feed mill, it runs like this:
- Application. You submit the application with your supporting documents, and PSQCA scrutinises and registers it.
- Factory evaluation. Officers visit the mill. Expect them to look at raw-material intake, the mixing and pelleting line, finished-feed storage and, above all, whether you can test your own feed.
- Sampling. Samples are drawn from the line or the finished-goods store, so that store needs to be organised by batch.
- Testing. Samples are tested in your laboratory and at PSQCA's laboratories against PS 233.
- Licence. If the feed conforms, the Certification Marks licence is issued and you may print the mark.
- Surveillance. PSQCA keeps checking through periodic factory inspections and samples taken both from the mill and from the market.
- Renewal. The licence is reviewed and renewed periodically, and can be suspended or cancelled if feed fails to conform.
The market samples are the part feed mills most often underestimate. A bag bought from a dealer months after production still has to meet the standard, so moisture control in storage and transport matters as much as the formula.
Documents to prepare
The core file is the same as for any PSQCA product: proof of company registration, a process flow chart, your quality manual and quality plan, raw-material purchase specifications, a list of test equipment with calibration records, details of QC staff, test reports showing conformity with PS 233, and factory layout and location plans. Our PSQCA certification checklist sets out every item in detail.
For a feed mill, two parts of that file deserve the most attention:
- Raw-material specifications. Write purchase specifications for maize, soybean meal, rice polish, canola meal and every other major ingredient, with the test you run at intake and the point at which a consignment is rejected.
- Test equipment and calibration. Inspectors will ask how you measure moisture and protein, and how you know your instruments are accurate. Our guide to calibration and traceability explains what records they expect to see.
Confirm the current application fee directly with PSQCA before filing, as fees are revised from time to time.
Practical tips for feed mills
- Set up an in-house lab for at least moisture and crude protein before you apply. Testing capability is one of the first things inspectors check. Our QC laboratory guide covers what to equip it with.
- Keep supplier test reports for every ingredient consignment alongside your own intake results.
- Record production and test results batch by batch. Surveillance visits review these records.
- Train QC staff on the sampling method defined in the standard, so your samples match the way PSQCA takes them.
Frequently asked questions
Is poultry feed a compulsory PSQCA item?
Yes. Poultry feeds under PS 233-2012 are on PSQCA's list of compulsory items.
How long does PSQCA certification take?
The licence can be issued within weeks once testing is complete, but the total time depends mostly on how ready your documents, laboratory and quality records are when you apply.
Do imported poultry feeds need PSQCA approval?
Compulsory items must conform to Pakistan Standards whether they are made locally or imported. Importers should confirm the current import procedure with PSQCA.
Is livestock feed also covered?
Yes. Balanced feed mixture for livestock is compulsory under PS 234-2016.
How Connect Engineers & Consultants can help
CEC helps poultry and livestock feed manufacturers and importers prepare the complete PSQCA file: documentation, quality-control setup, pre-testing, readiness for the factory inspection, and follow-up until the licence is issued. We also handle company registration if you are starting a new feed business.
Ready to license your feed? See our PSQCA product certification service or talk to our team.
PSQCA's list of compulsory items and Pakistan Standards are revised from time to time. Always confirm the latest standard, fees and requirements with PSQCA before applying.
