The European Union (EU) has decided to thoroughly check the aquaculture products imported from India from April onwards. Based on a report of the technical committee on marine products, EU Health Authority has recommended to check at least 20 per cent of the aquaculture products imported from India for various tests such as antibiotic residue and micro organisms. Currently, random sampling of products in conducted for these quality checks.
“EU will adopt the 20 per cent sampling method on farm-based products, especially shrimp, from this April. We don’t have a detailed information whether 20 per cent from each consignment or 20 per cent of the total consignments will be collected for testing. We are awaiting further details about their decision,” said Anwar Hashim, president, Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI).
Sources close to the developments said this would make exports to EU, which is the largest importer from India, very tough. It is likely that European importers will avoid Indian aquaculture products, especially shrimp because the sampling and testing process will lead to a lag of one-four weeks for the delivery of products. This will be a threat to the exports to EU nations, he added. The fresh move of EU is following the strict implementation of catch certificates for Indian seafood products from the beginning of the new year. The latest move by EU has become a bolt from the blue as the Government of India had implemented the issuance of catch certificates after a cumbersome administrative process.
EU is the largest importer of Indian marine products. During 2008-09, it had the largest market share of 32.53 per cent in rupee realization followed by China (15.06 per cent), Japan (14.34 per cent) and the US (11.87 per cent).
EU retained its top position in the current year also contributing 32 per cent of the total marine export kitty of India followed by China and Japan in April-August period of 2009-10 (according to the latest data of Marine Products Export Development Authority). During the period, EU imported 53,176 tonnes (29 per cent of the total quantity) valued at Rs 999.55 crore from India.
Source : Business Standard