Seafood exporters from India have raised the pitch for introduction of WTO-controlled single international agency to check quality and other parameters for export of marine products to various countries.
During the discussions on the second day of the three-day India International Seafood Show-2016 being organised here by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and Seafood Exporters’ Association of India (SEAI), several exporters expressed concern over different compliance standards adopted by members of European Union as well as other major importers.
When contacted, Director in the Ministry of Commerce P.V. Hari Krishna told The Hindu that the number of rejections due to antibiotic residual and other factors in aquaculture products, which account for a lion’s share of India’s exports, had come down progressively over the years due to strict adherence to parameters recommended by the U.S., leading consumer of India seafood, China, Russia, Japan and other countries. SEAI president V. Padmanabham said they had already represented to the Centre to take up the issue as well as consider their demand for according agriculture status to fisheries to benefit a large number of fishermen who were dependent on the industry for their livelihood.
As per projections of MPEDA, seafood exports will increase from $4.7 billion to $5.6 billion this year due to stringent quality check and demand for Vannamei (white-leg shrimp).
Country Director of US FDA-India Mathew T. Thomas, who gave a presentation on the procedures followed by them on import of marine products, said they were adopting a totally transparent method for accepting consignments from India and other countries.
