Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormPowder (dried botanical root)
Industry PositionBotanical ingredient / medicinal plant material
Market
Licorice root powder is a botanical ingredient typically traded within the HS 1211 category for medicinal/industrial plants, including material that is cut, crushed, or powdered. The licorice species commonly referenced for this ingredient is Glycyrrhiza glabra, which is native to Pakistan. Pakistan has a significant domestic traditional medicine sector and participates in medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) supply chains, but quality consistency and supply-chain structure are cited challenges in parts of the MAP trade. For exports of plant products, Pakistan’s Department of Plant Protection (DPP) issues phytosanitary certification and requires the exporter to meet the importing country’s phytosanitary requirements as a precondition for certification.
Market RoleProducer and exporter (medicinal and aromatic plant ingredient category), with meaningful domestic use in traditional medicine supply chains
Domestic RoleUsed as a botanical input within traditional medicine and herbal product manufacturing supply chains
Market Growth
Risks
Market Access HighExports of plant and plant-product consignments from Pakistan can be blocked if the importing country’s market-access conditions (e.g., import permit/official notification) and phytosanitary requirements are not met, because Pakistan’s DPP export procedure frames certification on fulfillment of the destination requirements before a phytosanitary certificate is issued.Obtain and verify destination import permit/requirements early; align labeling, treatment, and inspection plan to the importing authority’s phytosanitary conditions before booking shipment.
Quality MediumQuality inconsistency and unreliable supply are cited challenges in Pakistan’s high-value medicinal-plant export context; for powdered botanicals this can translate into importer rejections for identity, contamination, or non-conformance to buyer specs.Implement incoming raw-material identity checks, moisture control, and documented cleaning/milling SOPs; adopt WHO-aligned GACP and strengthen chain-of-custody records.
Sustainability MediumMedicinal and aromatic plants in Pakistan are described as being threatened by unsustainable harvesting, habitat degradation, and climate change, which can disrupt long-term availability for wild-collected supply chains.Prioritize verified sustainable collection areas, support cultivation trials where feasible, and document harvesting practices and regeneration controls for supplier approval.
Documentation Gap MediumMissing or inconsistent export documentation (e.g., packing list/invoice/traceability or treatment evidence where required) can delay certification or clearance and jeopardize shipment schedules for plant products.Use a pre-shipment document checklist aligned to DPP requirements and the importing authority’s import permit conditions; keep batch-to-shipment traceability files audit-ready.
Logistics MediumFreight-rate volatility and transit delays can materially affect landed cost and delivery reliability for bulk dried botanical powders, especially when shipments require time-sensitive certification and inspection steps.Build schedule buffers for inspection/certification; consider consolidated loads and flexible routing; agree contingency clauses for freight surcharges in contracts.
Sustainability- Unsustainable harvesting and habitat degradation risks for medicinal and aromatic plants in Pakistan (wild-collection pressure noted in conservation-oriented project descriptions).
- Climate-change impacts on habitats supporting medicinal and aromatic plant availability.
Labor & Social- Collector livelihoods and gender dynamics can be material in Pakistani medicinal-plant supply chains (collection described as an income source and noted to involve women in some rural contexts).
FAQ
Which Pakistani authority issues phytosanitary certificates for exporting plant products such as licorice root powder?In Pakistan, the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) issues phytosanitary certificates for export of plant and plant products, based on inspection and the importing country’s phytosanitary requirements.
What documents are commonly required in Pakistan’s DPP export procedure for phytosanitary certification of plant products?DPP’s export procedure lists documents such as the importing country’s import permit/notification (where required), commercial invoice, packing list, and—when applicable—traceability and treatment certificates, along with shipment/container information and other supporting documents requested by the department.
Why is sustainability a material risk for Pakistan’s medicinal-plant supply chains relevant to licorice root powder?Project descriptions focused on Pakistan’s medicinal and aromatic plants note pressures from unsustainable harvesting, habitat degradation, climate change, and limited regulation, which can threaten long-term availability for wild-collected botanical supply chains.