Islamabad, January 12, 2026 – Pakistan has imposed immediate restrictions on the import of Trichloromethane, commonly known as chloroform, while permitting conditional imports for the pharmaceutical sector.
The Ministry of Commerce, through SRO 26(I)/2026 issued on January 9, 2026, amended the Import Policy Order, 2022 to regulate the inflow of the chemical. Under the latest notification, chloroform has been placed in Appendix-B, which covers items subject to import restrictions.
According to the amended policy, chloroform may only be imported by pharmaceutical companies, and that too subject to obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). The move aims to ensure tighter regulatory oversight over the use of the chemical, which has both industrial and medical applications.
The ministry clarified that goods listed in Appendix-B of the Import Policy Order, 2022 are importable only under the conditions specified therein. Additionally, all imports must comply with national quality standards and regulations applicable to similar domestically produced goods. These standards, as notified by the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), are detailed in Appendix-N of the Import Policy Order.
Furthermore, the notification states that imports carried out under border trade arrangements and the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement will continue to be governed by procedures notified by the federal government from time to time.
The restriction is expected to enhance regulatory control, prevent misuse, and ensure that chloroform imports are limited strictly to legitimate pharmaceutical needs.