Antibiotic resistance seen on the rise due to the growth of superbugs. (photo: Stockfile /FIS)

Exporters fear EU restrictions due to antibiotics in aquaculture products

INDIA
Saturday, August 05, 2017, 03:10 (GMT + 9)

The exporting sector fears that the European Union (EU) can consider the possibility of imposing a ban on Indian aquaculture seafood imports due to the discovery of increasing incidence of traces of antibiotics in the shipments from that country.

According to the Business Standard, at present these are speculations as there is no authentic official data available from the EU on such a move.

In the period from 2016 to 2017, the EU accounted for 18 per cent of the total USD 5.78 billion seafood exports from India.

Trade sources said that there are increasing rejection of Indian shrimp due to the presence of antibiotics like nitrofurans and metabolites, AOZ and chloramphenicol.

The European Commission (EC) is also believed to be banning factories whose products have been rejected.

"While the commission has not taken any official action yet (the issue does not appear on any EU agendas), the future of Indian aquaculture imports is looking bleak,” pointed out from the Directorate-General Health and Food Safety.

Meanwhile, it was known that an advisor of Seafish, which represents the UK seafood industry, wrote to the importers expressing their serious concern about the continuing finds of antibiotics in Indian shrimp and dissatisfaction with the response so far of the Indian authorities.

                               A Food & Water Watch report, Suspicious Shrimp, addresses the consumer health risks of eating shrimp that is farmed abroad – neurological damage, allergies, and other infections and illnesses. These can occur from ingesting shrimp contaminated with pesticide residues, antibiotics or pathogens resistant to antibiotics, such as E. coli.

"In the light of what we know, it would be no surprise if we see the commission put up a proposal at the standing committees that Indian aquaculture product be banned completely. The commission is having a summer shutdown at the moment, so no meetings will be taking place until September. We will look out for developments", the Seafish advisor pointed out.

Last year, the EU strengthened its inspection norms for aquaculture products sourced from India and and started by testing samples from at least 10 per cent of the consignments which was enhanced to 50 per cent in 2016.

For his part, Rajen Padhi, Director, Exim Consultant and a seafood trader stressed that the EU is a major market for Indian shrimp, adding that at least 19 per cent of total exports are directed to this market and that aquaculture shrimp constitute about 60 per cent of shrimp exports.

In his view, such a move would badly affect shrimp exports as well as the reputation and trust on Indian shrimp.
 
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