The report about antibiotics residues in chicken recently released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) was “influenced by multinational companies” trying to export chicken legs from the US to India, charged Poultry Industry representatives from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.
‘EU compliant’Telangana Poultry Federation president Ranjit Reddy said the amounts of antibiotics residues found in chicken produced in the country were less than the permissible levels announced by European Union.
“We don’t deny presence of antibiotics residues in chicken produced in the country. But the CSE should have given the permissible levels of the same to inform the public properly,” he said.
He said the CSE report had hit sales of poultry industry which was already struggling to survive with increased production costs.
‘Therapeutic purpose’Venkateshwara Hatcheries general manager S. Balasubramanian said antibiotics were not being used in poultry farms of Telangana, A.P. and elsewhere to promote growth of chicks. Mostly, antibiotics were used in poultry farms here for therapeutic purpose, he claimed.
American importsThe Centre was reportedly planning to import chicken legs from America to secure certain exemptions for export of agriculture products from India to America. Looks like the CSE report on presence of antibiotics residues in chicken produced in the country, which would deter regular consumers from buying chicken, was motivated by persons or companies trying to export chicken legs from America to India, Mr. Ranjith Reddy remarked.
He urged the Centre to challenge the American poultry industry to compete with the Indian poultry industry in producing qualitative and cheaper chicken.
“Health-conscious Americans consume the breast part of chicken because it is lean and naturally stocks of chicken legs piled up there which the Centre is planning to import,” Mr. Reddy said.
